“Drift Toward Trump” ran a RealClearPolitics headline in the hours after the unusually calm debate Thursday, during which Donald Trump failed to reference his genitals for a record two hours, and hopes held by some that he could be “normalized” as an acceptable, plausible, national figure held sway.

Twenty-four hours later, these were all in the dumpster that Trump has made of this primary season, due to the following things: Numerous instances of violence committed by Trump people against numerous bystanders and journalists; violence committed by organized leftists at a Trump rally that forced its cancellation; and threats made by Trump of even more violence on the Sunday talk shows on March 13. In the short term — the March 15 primaries — this may work to his benefit, as the attacks on him will allow him to say he’s a victim. And it grants him even more non-stop, round-the-clock coverage, putting a damper on all other issues, and drowning out anything that his opponents might find themselves trying to say.