That may be so, but I think Rudy will back off of most of the positions that are offensive to conservatives and will win the nomination. He will overshadow everyone in primary debates. I still think it will come down to Rudy or McCain.
I just don't think there are enough true conservatives in the Republican party to nominate a George Allen. And if he could be nominated, he would lose to a moderate Dem like Warner or Bayh. The liberals are already turning on Hillary, convinced she could not win. They will not nominate her. They will nominate an attractive candidate that perhaps only a Guiliani could beat.