"While he may gain votes in a few of the more moderate red states, he'll lose votes among the #1 GOP voting bloc in a big chunk of the country....southern/midwestern Christians.....due to his moral shortcomings, among other stances on important issues."
If you think the South would elect Hillary over Rudy, you're dreaming. Rudy is polling well everywhere--especially in the South, the Northeast, the mid-Atlantic, and the West Coast. My own blue state, PA, has Rudy in a significant lead over Hillary--and this is not likely to change since both candidates are already so well known. Besides, most Christian voters have become astute politicians--realistic enough to realize that to avoid disaster in '08 we need to field a very powerful candidate.
I will vote third party rather then vote for a liberal rino.