“We aren’t going to win NY putting him on the ticket, so what does he bring? “
Yeah Bush Sr could presumably help bring in a big state- Texas. Rudy can’t do that.
Mitt or Rudy though would be like a reverse Dick Cheney to bring in the ‘moderates’ like Cheny, God bless him, brought in the conservatives for Bush Jr.
A conservative who wanted to win would want the country club Republicans supporting the ticket.
I do see where you are coming from, and it is possible if we get a really solid conservative nominee that they may go for some "moderate" the media will like to shore up the mushy middle, but a pro-abortion candidate is just unacceptable. Alienating social conservatives would be a big mistake.
Personally, I am thinking top choices for a VP nominee would probably be someone like Rubio or perhaps Pawlenty (assuming he doesn't win the nomination). Both could help us win important states, and both can probably appeal to independents (Rubio brings in Hispanics too).