You are right about parts of the State. We are very conservative, but we are also pretty independent. We also have two extremely liberal parts of the State that dominate the elections (even if some of it is through fraud).
I am sorry to say that a southern conservative wont do it here. I could possibly see Rudy taking that State because we have a strong independent streak in us. In 2006 the Republicans lost the assembly. We retained the senate by only a one vote majority. We reelected (by a healthy margin) a democratic crook. I just do not see Wisconsin going red again, with the exception of a Rudy nomination. Although we do have a strong social conservative streak, it just isn't that dominate in places outside the very rural areas.
If Wisconsin is out of reach for Fred, how do you explain the fact that Bush very nearly carried it with all his baggage 4 years ago? Bush was nowhere near as good a candidate as Fred. I do not live there so I will not presume to predict. I know some people who recently moved there. They are hard core conservatives and feel right at home. They would never vote for Rudy.
I will tell you that Rudy is a sure loser in a general election. He will blow the Republican party completely apart. Most of the Right to Lifers and Second Amendment aficionados will not tolerate a Rudy nomination. If he wins the nomination, which I doubt, he will spawn a third party that will cost him a number of states that Bush narrowly carried with the help of a huge social con turnout in 2004.