[xzins]

And let's not forget.........this was BEFORE voters found out Rudy was porkng his mistress on the taxpayers' dime, that he had super-secret global business doings and that Kerik, Rudy's driver, bodyguard, and Police Commissioner (in that order) was a mobbed-up tax evader who lied to the WH.

Great summary, Liz. It should be turned into an internet handbill and mailed to every Republican email account in America.

In the meantime, Rudy's taken the gloves off and gone to bed with a headache and flu.

JCEccles, you're right about absenteeism on Thompson's part. But it is also true of Duncan Hunter. He's been there throughout, but just doesn't seem to have the desire to enter the ring and cause a ruckus that will get him some name recognition.

So, the only 3 with gloves on 2 weeks before the first vote are McCain, Huckabee, and Romney.

It makes me plumb sick to my conservative stomach.

[JCEccles]

Hunter needed a crystallizing event or emergent core constituency--something to pull him out of the background noise. The man has amazing conservative bona fides and a matchless personal story (especially his military connections).

Sadly, it just never happened.