The 'battle' as you put it, is not about whether Rudy can beat Hillary. Hillary will self-destruct, she can't help it. Her temper like Howard Deans mouth will expose her as 'damaged goods'. Hopefully later AFTER she wins the nomination rather than sooner.
If Rudy was a Democrat, he would be the best candidate they have. As a Republican candidate, he is what the Democrats want, Pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-gay marriage.
Once you have decided to give up or set aside your core values for gaining the White House, you have fallen into the hands of the RINO's.
And we have enough of those to go around now.
" Pro-abortion, pro-gun control, pro-gay marriage" You call these core values, but they are all really states rights issues. There are rightful federal issues.