Bingo. You can’t systematically insult, trash, and lie about your opponents and then expect their supporters to rally behind you.
I wasn't a "Cruzer", and didn't have a dog in the Cruz/Trump fight here when it started. I started out supporting Rubio - and not because I agreed with everything he did (I hated the Gang of 8 too). I just believe that what was most needed was a really good communicator who could reach younger people with the small government/self-reliance/opportunity core message of conservatism. I think if we don't win them, it's over. But Rubio screwed up and didn't make it.
When it came down to Cruz or Trump, I really didn't have a bias in terms of what I was reading here. But when I come here and read the stuff so many Trump supporters are saying, it makes me feel like "screw it", I don't want to give those kind of people what they want, or to reward that kind of behavior.
Now sure, it would be irrational not to vote for a candidate just because you find so many of his supporters (obviously not all) so annoying.
But damn, it gets really tempting sometimes.