With all due respect, Jim could be wrong. I'm sure Mrs. Robinson reminds him all the time. ;-)
I wish it was only our grassroots that drive this election but I think it is more complicated than that. I think that Rudy draws in enough moderate independents to offset social conservative defections.
I disagree about a depressed grassroots effort in 2000. As social conservatives, we had our guy and were excited about him. And still we lost the popular vote.
Bingo! And I think that is what all the moaning and groaning from the purists on this site is about.
If the party could win with Rudy without them, why would the party even listen to them anymore?