I agree. He miscalculated his nationwide appeal. He should have run for governor instead. It was his for the taking.
Lest we forget the "melting pot" that is NYC and always has been, Rudy was an old school *tough* Democrat originally, and only changed his party affiliation to Republican when President Reagan offered him the job of US Attorney for the District of New York, and *only* if he changed his affiliation to Republican. Reagan, (another "old school" tough former Democrat) insisted, and so Rudy changed his stripes in order to get the job.
OK, we may call them RINO's and we may call them liberals in Republican clothing ... but the brutal reality is that no true conservative would ever be able to attain high elective office in the melting pot of New York, it just isn't in the cards given the historic social fabric of this region.
Rudy as Governor of New York? OK, that would work.
Rudy as President of the United States? Nope, ain't gonna happen.
My father always said that the position of Mayor of NYC is a dead end job ... no NYC Mayor has ever gone on to attain higher political office. Rudy could have been the first to achieve the governorship, but instead he overreached and shot for president instead, thereby damaging not only his national image, but right here at home too. It would have been a slam-dunk in '06, but now its an uphill battle if he decides to run for governor in 2010.