Neither he nor Cruz are Washington politicians. They’re outsiders. So is Cruz. Maybe Fiorina.
Trump is so unorthodox that he will upset the apple cart. Everyone’s fighting over some conservative purity test, and they use it to kill of the non-establishment candidates, forgetting that there is ZERO establishment types who would pass their test, but they’ll let them sneak in the back door.
Trump, Cruz, and Carson fighting to win over each other? Sure, that’s to be expected. But having someone get so wrapped around the axle that they’d say, “Well, I hate this guy so much that I’ll vote for....(add an establishment name).
That isn’t retribution. That’s suicide.
Sheer hatred, their teeth hurt from the gritting and grinding.
Their vote will amount to nothing, but to show how stalwart and non bending they are in their perceived self righteousness, they utter those words to show the reader how much they still can make a difference and are a force (vote) to be reckoned with.