“What did not play out on the stage was the fact that the veterans event was the biggest gamble of Trump’s campaign so far...”
Nonsense. It was utterly no risk. He dodged the ambush and his lowly opponents feasted on each other. Every candidate with a seemingly insurmountable lead would want to sit out a debate if he could do so without humiliation.
You’re right, it was no gamble at all. Trump clearly WON the debate, perhaps even more decisively that if he had been on stage, as it was then Ted Cruz who taking all the slings and arrows from the rival candidates. While Cruz acquitted himself well, he caught all the damage that The Donald avoided, and especially, the “embarrassment” questions from the audience never came up for The Donald to have to respond to.
you are correct
the gambit was no gamble, it was rather a show of strength
if you’ve got it, flaunt it
How’s that saying go? When your enemies are tearing each other apart, get out of the way!
To me, the disconnect is amazing: People want a Gen. Custer when it comes to their own inner-party/Fox ‘debate’ battles, but want John Wayne/backbone-of-steel/take-no-sh!t when it comes to the DEM/MSM.