“But the Republican Party can at least say that their problem candidate was foisted upon…”  No Megan, Trump was not "foisted", he received the most votes.  

“…for Trump to consolidate what was left over.”  No Megan, Trump lead from near the beginning.  The republican party chose, from a field of 17 candidates, Trump.

Trump may not be what the republican leadership wanted, but he was/is exactly what the republican voters want.