[dirtboy]

It's odd to see the Rudy boosters deny the clear problems Rudy would have holding the base together, given the rancor his candidacy has generated to date. Heck, Rudy's even changed my mind on McCain - I thought I could never vote for the guy in the general, but if the choice were McCain or Rudy, I'd pick McCain now. That's saying a ton right there.

They somehow believe that Rudy could make up for lost socon votes by running leftward. However, as long as Rudy remains pro-war, he can't do that and make up the difference.

So if the Rudy boosters are so concerned about holding the White House in 2008, why do they persist in pushing someone from the far left of the GOP who clearly would not be able to hold the party together? Duncan Hunter is my first choice, but I'm not naive - he hasn't gotten traction and probably would be too far right to win in 2008. So I'm willing to be pragmatic and support the GOP centrist Fred Thompson.

But many of the Rudy boosters seem largely unwilling to make the same move now.

[Jim Noble]

But many of the Rudy boosters seem largely unwilling to make the same move now.

I've said over and over that I would switch IF I were convinced that the "split the party" concept were a fact.

I must say, though, that what has gone down on this thread has made me more inclined to believe that the people who will stay home if Rudy is the nominee are a small faction.

Loud, convinced they are right, passionate - but small.

If your estimate of the size of your group proves correct in the primary season, I will admit I was wrong.