[finnman69]

Dean started running as early as anyone in 2003. He was a newcomer only in the sense that he had not been well known before his presidential campaign propelled him to prominence because a fragment of his party passionately supported him. His campaign fell apart because, in spite of all the hype, it became clear that he couldn’t unify that party for the general election. Democrats wanted to win so they turned away from the guy that their left wing loved and nominated somebody who could hold their coalition together and compete with George W. Bush. This happened in the runup to Iowa. By the time Dean issued his famous scream his candidacy was already over. Rudy’s situation is exactly parallel. He is beloved of the leftmost wing of the Republican Party which lets him reach the high 20’s in early polling. But he can’t unify the GOP any more than I can fly without mechanical assistance. Just as Democrats turned away from the divisive Dean, Republicans will turn away from the divisive Giuliani.

ELECTABILITY
Howard Dean’s collapse in Iowa in 2004 was due in no small part to widespread concern among Democratic caucus-goers that Dean’s strident anti-Bush and anti-war rhetoric would make him unelectable in November against Bush.

Does electability and the ability to beat Hillary rings a bell regarding a certain frontrunner as an asset?

Also people fundamentally did not trust Dean, they felt Kerry was a much safer pick in the end for America and to win. I'd say that Giuliani has the keep you safe vote pretty locked up.

Now granted Giuliani will have to work hard to bring the conservative base home, but I believe it will come easier to for Rudy to accomplish that, than for Thompson to play catch up. CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION
He also lost because he almost completely relied on the Internet to organize his campaign. He assumed all those meetups and Internet chats would translate to votes on the cheap. Didn’t happen. You need to have an established campaign with real staff and real money. You need to have a real message anc connect with voters. Dean has a movement not a campaign. I'd say Thompson has more of a movement at this point than a campaign

Again, you see it differently than I do. One of us will be right.

[ClarenceThomasfan]

If Rudy turns out to be the nominee, he should pick a hard right VP like Duncan Hunter or Rick Santorium to hold on to the base. Conservatives want to see a strong Conservative set up for the 2016 election. God help us, if he picks McCain. I may even have to vote third party in that case.