Don’t get overly sanctimonious. Presidents nominate justices to the Supreme Court. THAT is where the conservatism counts more than any other place.
While libs give us Ginsberg and Breyer, psuedo-libs give us Stephens and Souter. There really isn’t that much difference between the four.
Would you rather go 1 for 2 or 0 for 2 on Supreme Court nominees? That’s the practical issue we’re going to face if Rudy becomes the nominee and faces Hillary!, Obama or Edwards. And, unfortunately, I don’t see any viable conservative presidential candidate except for maybe Fred Thompson - who so far, isn’t running.