I guess we have a different view of being out on a limb.
Hoping who I believe is the best candidate runs and wins is not being out on a limb.
Concentrating on the fact that a candidate doesn't genuflect to the far right's politically correct view of Guns, Gays and Abortion in the days of terror plots on NY, a war in Iraq, a soon to be nuclear Iran, a madman shooting missiles targeting Hawaii, a belligerent Russia, Israeli and Arabs doing the tango, oil prices through the roof, and all the other good stuff occurring whose solutions or calamity are almost directly laid at the hands of the President- that my friend is the country going out on a very dangerous limb.
You really miss the whole point. If this country isn't going to stand on the principles laid out by its founders, then this country isn't worth getting out of bed to defend against all these calamities you listed here. That's exactly why pro-life and Second Amendment supporters are among the most uncompromising people in the United States today.
And that's exactly why a place like New York has become increasingly extraneous over time in the minds of most "red state" Americans -- which makes a Republican candidate's track record in a sh!t-hole like New York City completely irrelevant in a national race.
Calling the base the far right only shows your true moderate/liberal colors.