I agree. Rudy is not my first choice, but the list of possibilities is not very long. Someone who does not already have national name recognition does not have a chance. My choices:
1) Condi (won't happen. She's said no enough that I believe her, and the waffling required to be Secretary of State doesn't burnish a future President's stauture.)
2) Santorum (Not likely. A handful of people have come back from electoral defeats to win the top job, but Nixon had already been VP and Lincoln was one of a kind. With luck, Santorum will prove himself eloquent enough during primary season to fill the VP slot or make himself a contender for 2012)
3) Fred Thompson (slim to no chance, but I heard him subbing for Paul Harvey on the radio and he has more in common with Reagan than his acting career. He articulates conservative principles in a folksy common sense way that is hard to dislike. Also one of the few that seem to want to accomplish something rather than hold a title.
4) Newt (He's the first one on this list who has a decent chance. Newt has his own set of baggage, but he is conservative, smart, and articulate.)
5) Rudy (He's on the right side in the WOT which is the biggest issue of our time. His judicial appointments would be tough on crime and tough on frivilous lawsuits. He can beat Hillary)
6) McCain ( I hope someone can beat him in the primary, but if the choice is him or a Dem, I'll hold my nose and vote for him)
...
300,000,001) Hillary
In a General Election I would hold my nose and vote for the Republican candidate no matter who it is (even sigh... McCane) but as far as primary goes I want
1. Rudy
2. Sanford
3. Romney
(And I would vote for santourom if he decided to run as well.)