Seems a lot of just-so logic there.

If it's dark genius then why doesn't it work for folks like Eric Adams or even other MAGA candidates?

My guess is he's actually lowered the bar of expectations so low that it cannot get any lower, it's on the floor. And folks inclined to circle the party wagons are willing to overlook at lot, something they would never do for outsider candidates who don't wear their colors or haven't lowered their own bar.