Allen isn't going to lose his seat over this media-driven nonsense, especially that his 'Rat opponent exposed himself as not above engaging in Jew-baiting. I consider the RINO troika of Romney, Rudy, and McNut as non-starters. Romney has done nothing for the MA Republican party as it becomes more and more moribund by the day, accomplished nothing as Governor (partly because Republicans are completely powerless thanks to the obscenely overrepresented 'Rat legislature reducing it to figurehead status) and doesn't even want to bother with running for a 2nd term. McCain is a senile wackjob of whom the media is hoping will get nominated so they can easily polish him off for the general (a very easy task), and Giuliani is a Democrat in virtually every position save law and order (excluding gun rights, in which case, he is as liberal as they come).
I agree with you on Brownback, he is also a no-go. I could settle for Rice, but worry about her lack of electoral experience and the fact she's not socially Conservative enough. I'm still sticking with Allen, but there may be some dark-horse candidates out there coming from the ranks of the Governors. I wouldn't mind Haley Barbour, who did a superb job of managing the Katrina aftermath (in stark contrast to the buffoons in Louisiana, who demonstrated they didn't have the collective intelligence to flush a toilet). But it is readily apparent that there is no "magic" candidate. Of course, the good news is that there is no "magic" candidate for the 'Rats, either. In a world where they didn't nominate candidates with Stalinist family histories (Lamont), Lieberman would be a superb candidate for them, but we know how that goes... ;-)
I only see new one name in your post, Barbour, and didn't he say he was not running? I might be wrong on that. He might be viable, if the Yankees can tolerate his accent. Don't laugh, it matters in politics.
What about Mike Huckabee? There was a small trial balloon in the papers a few months ago.
It's still way too early to consider the 2008 presidential field closed. If Senator Rick Santorum and/or Governor Tim Pawlenty win reelection this November, they could be outstanding presidential candidates in 2008. They are both conservatives who would have attracted enough blue-collar conservative Democrats and retained enough suburban liberal Republicans to be elected and reelected in states that were carried by both Gore and Kerry and which border other pivotal swing states (Wisconsin and Iowa (plus Michigan through Lake Superior) in the case of Minnesota, and Ohio, West Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware in the case of Pennsylvania). And if Pawlenty and Santorum both win this November I think the two would form a nearly bulletproof presidential/VP ticket in November of 2008 (regardless of which of the two is atop the ticket). But first they have to win tough reelection battles this November.