i think it is just because it is explicitly inexcusable. people can (wrongfully) chalk up these policies as collateral and former statements as being directed towards particular non racial groups. furthermore, this is about someone that many politicians know personally and care about. i agree that it isn't that bad comparable to like, the actual harm he's caused, but it's more about how blatant this is.

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It’s more blatant and harder to excuse

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For some people, the other stuff was never a smoking gun. And this still might not be it for people like Tim Scott, who are probably going to say “oh they said it was a mistake”

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