"So who should we consider supporting?"
For those who have their feet planted in reality, the only viable candidate for 2008 is Rudy Giuliani.
We don't deal in wishful thinking, we deal in reality. He is a leader, can beat Hillary, may even have coattails to help get control of Congress back from the Dems.
I don't understand the fear of Hillary that prevails among so many conservatives.
She is not going to win. Rudy will tear the Republican party in two.
Rudy has more baggage than Santa on Christmas morning.
He will not win. I for one will not vote for him. I'll support the conservative who will surely rise up and run as a third party candidate against him in the general.
Rudy's coattails will be for democrats who espouse the same views he does on a wide range of issues.
If you turn off 5% of the conservatives, and draw in another 10% independents and democrats who like Rudy's leadership and his liberal social positions, they won't likely support conservatives downticket who strongly disagree with Rudy.
Look at the "coattails" Arnold had in California -- none at all.