All polls, including conservative mouth organs, had the Dems winning the 2006 elections, it was just a matter of how much....and if you think Rudy wouldn't beat Hillary today, you are nuts. The guy is very popular right now. Whether it stays that way is another story. But the guy is popular, whether you like it or not. If he makes it to the general election, I'm casting my vote for him; the alternative is too mind-numbing to ponder.
You said it yourself. Rudy is very popular RIGHT NOW. That's because the media are hyping him, the way they always do with the most liberal Rep. candidates, and because the party rank-and-file haven't done their homework on his positions. Many of them will have plenty of time to find out there is much more to this guy than some noble speeches after 9/11, and they won't like what they find.