You put it in a nutshell. Freepers who don't consider abortion to be all that important should understand that there are tens of millions of people who voted Republican in the last three elections who DO think it is important.
A lot of these people have stayed home in past elections and simply not bothered to vote. They would do so again. So, if you want a firm military leader in the war on terror, or if you want someone who will defend our borders, or if you want someone who will cut taxes, then you have to be prepared to understand that you won't get any of those things unless the candidate is supported by religious conservatives. There's no way a Republican can win election without them.
And these people are not just being stupid or unrealistic. After all, the right to life is the most basic right of all, and the Supreme Court's passage of Roe v. Wade has made mincemeat of the rule of constitutional law in this country. It's the cornerstone of judicial tyranny.
So, who's out there that will be a firm leader in the war on terror and foreign policy and ALSO be good on domestic issues and have the support of the social conservatives?
Rice, Rudy, McCain, Romney don't meet that. Allen seems good but he has all the charisma of Al Gore and hasn't exactly distinguished himself in the Senate. Brownback is too blase and probably will be seen as too focused on abortion to win. Pence and other congressmen simply don't have the gravitas.
If the dems are smart they'll pick Mark Warner. The GOP really needs to find someone and it would help if Bush would at least back someone rather then setting up this huge free for all.