Her debate performances were so commanding she at times left her rivals stuttering. Her answers on tricky subjects like abortion managed to expertly evade getting nailed down on specifics. With the exception of her Civil War gaffe and muddled messaging last week on Alabama’s IVF ruling, Haley rarely went off script. Even her advance team’s work was widely hailed among campaign veterans as detailed and superior to the competition.

But there was one subject that Haley couldn’t handle. And it proved, ultimately, to be her undoing: How does a Republican tackle Donald Trump?

Haley never found the right answer. And she tried at least a few different approaches. She deferred to him and flattered him. She apologized for him and chastised him. She ignored him and confronted him. Ultimately, she seemed bewildered by him.