Would you ever support George Pataki for the GOP nomination?
No.
Here's the thing about Rudy. He's not a RINO in the Lincoln Chafee or Chuck Hagel sense. In a difficult environment hostile to change & entrenched in big government liberalism, Rudy took on the status-quo. He cut taxes, cut welfare rolls, limited city government, etc. To do this in NYC, and to show strong leadership after 9/11 (telling Arafat and the Saudi Prince to go to Hell, something that even Bush never did) is why conservatives are willing to give Rudy a pass on his social liberal past.
George Pataki can't win the general, so no. Electability is also a major factor in who we should nominate.