I guess it doesn't occur to many in the GOP leadership that the best way to avoid a conservative rift is to NOT push a guy at the far left of the party as the nominee.
Tell that to Mel Martinez at the NRC. Blame Ken Mehlman and Karl Rove for this development. They sat back and let this happen in an effort to disarm the Religious Right and kill the conservative arm of the party.
My vote is with Mr. Gingrich.
"I guess it doesn't occur to many in the GOP leadership that the best way to avoid a conservative rift is to NOT push a guy at the far left of the party as the nominee."
If there is any real "GOP leadership" it is NOT "pushing" Guiliani or anyone else. You have NO evidence for such a claim. The FACT that people know who he is has nothing to do with any pushing except that from Rudy himself.
This poll was not produced by the GOP.
Plus, conservatives where wiped out last fall they cannot even protect their own much less nominate a candidate.