Paul Ryan aside, Donald Trump has actually won the support — or at least the non-opposition — of a significant part of the national Republican power structure. But as Trump works to win over the rest of the GOP leadership, he still faces real problems in some unexpected places. For example, South Carolina — stalwart, deep-red South Carolina — has become a leading example of a solidly conservative state with Republican leadership still unreconciled to a Trump victory.

Of course, Trump is going to win South Carolina in the general election. But everything is easier if the state’s governing establishment is on a candidate’s side. And Trump’s problems with that establishment were on painful display recently when the South Carolina GOP held its annual convention and fundraising dinner. Presidential politics is huge in South Carolina, and every May of every presidential election year, the dinner teems with presidential talk, with party officials leading the way. But not this year.