Rudy's popularity is simple: He is viewed as a leader.
Hitler, Stalin, FDR, Mao and Saddam have all been viewed as great leaders. Being a leader, in and of itself, isn't necessarily a good thing.
Liberalism keeps winning because too many "conservatives" are too stupid to look beyond personal attributes or so desperate to beat Democrats, they elect liberals and unprincipled RINOs to office.
One has to wonder if there is really any reason to even care who wins elections anymore when there is so little difference between the candidates and parties.