Yes, I think the timing was just happenstance. Things just broke when they did. There was nothing calculated involved in that. It occurred, and taste of Republican blood in the water was just too irresistable to them.
They would have probably preferred to feast on Christie’s whale-blubber in 2016, but you’re talking about rabid pack animals, where instinct kicks in.
That makes sense. Surprised that party bigwigs didn’t step in and call off the dogs. Maybe it got away from them.