[Beagle8U]

"That 34 percent is quite misleading when you look at how he fares state by state. Rudy can easily win the nomination without the south. No one else can."

If the primary voters are split enough he could win the nomination with 34%, but that 34% wont win the general.

If we nominate someone that loses the southern states the RATS win.

[massadvj]

Neither Hillary nor Obama nor Gore can take the south, even against Giuliani. In fact, against Hillary, Giuliani would take most of the southern states by a greater plurality than Bush beat Kerry.

Even the south is evolving into a secular, urban majority. Giuliani is appealing to a large number of these folks, and the most of the rural bible thumpers will compromise when push comes to shave.

[massadvj]

Rudy isn't polling at 34 percent in a general election. He polls in the hi 40's against Hillary in the low 40's. He beats her easily in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and is competitive in California and New York while sweeping the red states. He does even better against Obama. Goodness, what other candidate can accomplish that?