YDR: The conservative names bandied about are all, nationally, lightweights.
jla: But you have no problem supporting a former mayor?
Hey, lets be fair, Rudy has Washington experience - he was on the staff of some deputy up there and then had an associate position for a couple of years.
Ronald Reagan had no Washington experience whatsoever. He was head of the Screen Actors Guild with NO political standing until he gave a great speech supporting B. Goldwater. Then he became Governor of California.
I guess using your criteria, Reagan wouldn't get your vote for the Republican nomination. Ford, Rockefeller and GHW Bush would all be better nominees because they have Washington experience, right?