Explain or aopologize and you lose right there. Trump will probably be intimidated into making explanations and apologies and will knock himself out of the race thereby. The Republicans will try to do that to every conservative candidate as each rises to the upper ranks of the contenders. The only ones I see possibly successfully resisting the process are Walker and Cruz.
Criticism won't affect Trump. He's impervious to criticism.
In fact, if anything, he seems to thrive on it.
Where I see Trump as possibly losing steam is in the debates. It will be interesting to see how he looks and sounds on stage compared to his competition.
If he can pull that off without losing his lead, Katy bar the door.
That said, I am a Cruz supporter first and Walker second.
But if Trump wins the nom, I will vote for him.