McCain having a ten-point lead over Allen at this point is meaningless...McCain is far better known nationally. What will matter is who can build an effective campaign organization in 2007 and develop a message that will appeal to the people who will vote in the primaries. Whether Allen is the best conservative hope is unclear at this point. Anyway, the 2008 general election is nearly 3 years away.
I'm not opening the window in preparation to jump yet, but Allen has been running neck and neck with, and even slightly ahead of, McPain at Tradesports.com until fairly recently. The thought of having to choose between McPain and Ms. 'Toon (she's way ahead at the site) is unpleasant.