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If it was just one poll showing that most Americans oppose the war, I might agree with you. But that is not the case.

So, you believe that a majority of Americans support the war in Iraq. Well fine. One problem with that opinion. The 2006 GOP election loss was primarily based on Americans not supporting the war. You can denounce polling data, but you can't deny the results of the election.

Back to the reason for all this. You gave kudos to Rooty for pointing out the term "islamic extremists" wasn't used in the earlier Democrat debate. I said it was insignificant and meaningless because most Democrats oppose the war anyway. I stick with that logic. Rooty scored no points with that one.

However, Rooty`s support for abortion was exposed in all its glory. His campaign took a big hit on that issue, revealing him for the liberal he's always been. With more to come.

In addition, I thought Rudy looked pretty unpresidential in the debate, compared to Romney and Hunter and even McCain (who I loathe). His poor performance is pretty universally accepted on the right, from what I’ve read.

FWIW, one of our local radio talkers was very much pro-Rudy (fighter, cleaned up NY, etc). He said this AM that Rudy stunk....and just as importantly, that Hunter was the guy that suprised him with his style and stances.

The 2006 election was more than the Iraq war. The Dems fielded many “moderate” candidates, and most certainly did NOT run on “cut and run”; and most importantly, the GOP/RNC absolutely sucked for the last two years on giving Cheney and Bush ANY support on promoting the importance of the war. And even after that, the midterm losses were in a fairly normal range.

However, Rooty`s support for abortion was exposed in all its glory.

Exactly which position was it that he had last night? He was so confused by his own contradictions and at least five different flipflops he's had on taxpayer-funded abortion and the Hyde Amendment that he no longer seems to remember his last statement on the subject. One of the PMSNBC factcheckers (an obnoxious twit) did manage to unearth all his contradictions on the subject over the years and in recent months. It was an amazing record.

What's Rudy's abortion position? May as well ask what phase of the moon it is. But phases of the moon are at least consistent and predictable, an attribute Rudy seems incapable of. I'm starting to enjoy how his beady little eyes almost start tearing up and how he stammers and starts lisping when the subject is raised about the extent of his decades-long enthusiastic support for the murder of the unborn. NARAL's Champion Of Choice™ turns out to be a weak sister indeed. And that undermines every claim he has made to bold leadership on other issues.

We're going to rip him to shreds publicly if he isn't smart enough to quit. Hey, Rudi, we'll all fake some sympathy if you choose to fake another bout of prostate cancer!

So, RM, will Rudi lose more or less than 5% of his national support in polling later this week? I'm thinking his support has to soften. I'm leaning toward predicting he loses at least 7% of his supposed support with Romney gobbling up 3-4% and McStain getting maybe 2%. Hunter, FThompson and uncommitteds get the rest.

Ah, the prospect of Giuliani roadkill on the road to the White House. What a sweet sweet thing it is to ponder.

During the debate, I was so amazed that Rudy ducked the Christianity question that I missed the content of his response. He went back to the question about Schwarzenegger and the future of the Republican Party... "downplaying partisanship and taking centrist positions."

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MR. MATTHEWS: Mayor Giuliani, I have to ask you the next question. Has the increased influence of Christian conservatives in your party been good for it?

MR. GIULIANI: Sure, the increased influence of large numbers of people are always good for us.

I'd like to go back to the earlier question that you asked, because I think it really is important that we, you know, define the Republican party to fit today. And neither party has a monopoly on virtue or vice. That's just a fallacy that we sometimes fall into.

And if we're going to win and we're going to govern after we win, we have to reach out, bring in Democrats, bring in independents. I ran a city that was five-to-one Democratic, and I was able to -- according to George Will, I ran the most conservative government in the last 50 years in New York City, reduced crime, reduced welfare, balanced the budget and lowered taxes 23 times.

MR. MATTHEWS: Time, Mr. Mayor, it's time.

MR. GIULIANI: And I had 45 Democrats and I think six Republicans. MR. MATTHEWS: Okay.