Another option would be to discourage him through legal measures, bankrupting him, character assassination, and just throwing roadblocks at every turn. This would be the path I am suggesting that they've chosen to go. It doesn't put all of your chips on one play, so you can build a multi-front attack. And drawing it out would be a benefit with this tactic, as it keeps the news relevant, so the mudslinging doesn't get stale. And whether they can topple his support or just discourage him though pressure and time, it would have the intended result.