By Jennifer Steinhauer

New York Times

WASHINGTON >> His unrelenting stream of incendiary remarks has left horrified congressional Republicans divided into several loose categories about the problem that is Donald Trump.

There are the fast walkers — like Sen. Patrick J. Toomey, the endangered Republican from Pennsylvania — who try to run briskly away from questions about the party’s presumed nominee for president. Toomey — never the most loquacious lawmaker — has mastered the art of twisting his face into a grimace and racing away from reporters before they can ask him about Trump’s latest statements about expanding a ban on Muslim immigration.

Another senator in a tight re-election bid, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, also tries to avoid talking about Trump, whom she supports, as she makes her way through the halls of Congress. (To be in this category, it is very useful to have Ayotte’s long legs.)

Then there are lawmakers best described as grumps, like Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who appears decidedly downbeat about his party, and Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., who offered early support to Trump’s campaign but said this week, “I don’t know that I really have a lot to say,” adding that he had tried to advise Trump and was “discouraged by the results.”

Add to that list Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., who has struggled to find a single policy position he shares with Trump.

Others are doing “the McConnell,” taking a cue from their majority leader, Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. Sens. Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz — as well as a number of House members — rotely repeat that they are supporting Trump and refuse to engage on his specific statements most days.

McConnell pre-emptively cuts off discussion by saying things like, “I’m not going to be commenting on the presidential candidates today.”

A smaller group are the free speakers, including Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who feel unbridled to openly heap scorn on Trump. Flake called Trump’s remarks suggesting that President Barack Obama somehow had inside information about the Orlando massacre “particularly disgusting” and, like Graham, said he would not be voting for him.

Another category are the vaguely-upset-but-what-can-you-do.

“Am I offended sometimes at the comments? Yes I am,” said Rep. Mark Walker, R-N.C. “However, what offends me more are Hillary Clinton’s actions.”

Then there is Speaker Paul D. Ryan. He is perhaps the most prominent critic of Trump on his proposed Muslim ban but has nonetheless fully endorsed him. That is a category of one.

Trump has created a feedback loop in which he says increasingly outrageous and at times incoherent things about national security, immigration and other issues, and Republicans are forced to answer for it. On Wednesday during a rally in Atlanta, Trump addressed Republican criticism by basically telling lawmakers to shut up.

“Don’t talk. Please, be quiet,” he said. “Just be quiet, to the leaders, because they have to get tougher, they have to get sharper, they have to get smarter, and we have to have our Republicans either stick together or let me just do it by myself.”

While it is not clear how much support Trump is actually losing — House Republicans continue to hide behind Ryan’s embrace of the live wire as proof of their party unity — it is clear that he is not gaining support either. His top surrogates remain Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., and Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., with no sign of newcomers to the list.

The toxic combination of Trump’s statements and his falling poll numbers has given signs of life to the Never Trump movement, whose members cling to the hope that they can prevent Trump from becoming the nominee next month.

“If Donald Trump continues to conduct himself in a way that’s unbecoming of a nominee, let alone a president,” said Rory Cooper, a senior adviser to the #NeverTrump PAC, “then delegates and party leaders in Cleveland should be empowered to open the convention, just as Democrats are able to do. If there is no such mechanism, then you are essentially saying there is no unacceptable line Trump can cross.”

However, there is a big division among Trump-loathing Republicans over whether a change in convention rules, which would essentially unbind delegates from the candidate, or a third-party option is the best way to go.

Many Republicans, even those who appear in need of a box of chocolates or a bourbon to get through each day of Trump’s remarks, oppose a rules changes.

“That’s like saying in baseball that you’re a run behind and now you want to add three innings,” said Coats, after conceding that the process has been a slog.

Rep. Robert Dold, R-Ill., who has long been outspoken against Trump, said the will of the voters ought to be respected, even as he openly derides Trump.

“We’ve been explicit,” he said. “We are not supporting Donald Trump.”

Dold, like some other Republicans, said he would likely write in a candidate’s name.

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, who straddles the line of the free speaker and anyone-but-Clinton camps, has a more novel strategy.

“I don’t listen to him and never have,” Young said. “I may vote for myself.”

© 2016 The New York Times Company