Much ink has been spilled trying to figure out the rank and file Republican primary voters (working class Americans, white nationalists, anyone sick of political correctness, etc.) who helped propel Donald Trump to presumptive nominee status. Less time has been spent thinking about the more prominent backers—the politicians, operatives, and commentators—who have supported him along the way.

Without betraying any confidences, I’ve been thinking about who these people are, and how to categorize them. What follows is my effort to do so