It looks to me as if the alternative to McCain is Guiliani who has been traveling extensively raising money for Republicans and collecting IOUs. I don't believe any other candidate polls in double figures consistently.
What is termed the "base" around FR is a small collection of ideologues who have no one capable of winning the nomination. The biggest issue for the GOP is controlling their temper tantrums when whoever they favor goes down in flames and they will.
Horsecrackers. Guiliani hasn't even said he's running.
He'a rino's rino, pro-abortion, gun controlling liberal.
I listed a number of prospects at #34. All of them already have great name recognition, and a presidential race narrows down to 2 names. They get seen so much that it becomes like Ford & Chevy.....EVERYONE knows those names by the time November rolls around.