Agreed but we are still almost three years away from voting and the polls, I think, are reflecting who the MEDIA champions (mostly McCain) and not who Republicans actually want. The MSM is *dying* to prop up a RINO as the Republican nominee since they know the Democrats can't get their own act together and they also know a certain percentage of the electorate will stay home rather than vote for a RINO.
Personally, I'd accept Rudy before I'd accept McCain. He at least seems to be loyal to the party if not to all of their platform. He *might* have tried to make himself more liberal than he really is in order to be elected Mayor of NYC and could turn right out of a truer political calling. McCain, OTOH, is just a selfish glosshound who would speak while standing on his head if the NYT told him to.
I would say that right now people are going with name recognition. Senators are a total turnoff to most voters so Allen will stay in the low numbers until more people know who he is. I saw him on Hannity & Colmes and he was still dull as dishwater when he spoke. He's a good conservative candidate but watching him is as much fun as watching grass grow. He needs a personality. I think he can do alot better he just needs to get people to watch him which is kinda hard to do because he makes you fall asleep.