Donations to Gianforte's campaign increased after he physically attacked reporter Ben Jacobs.

I suspected that something like this was the case. The other Republicans who, shortly after, hinted at endorsing such violence did it because they understood what sort of fanatics support them.

Many Republicans are itching to commit violence for the cause of abolishing democracy in the US. The are unwilling to live in a free, democratic and peaceful society; they want a violent tyrant to follow.