Next president WILL appoint a justice. There will probably be a democrat majority in congress. So we need a solid conservative who won’t be inclined to let the democrats pick which “strict constructionist” to appoint.
Rudy has shown that when there are obstacles in place to appointing good conservative justices, he is happy to go along with those obstacles so long as the justice meets his definition of “fair and honest”, which according to Rudy includes finding that Roe is settled law.
If we get a Republican nominee who is a STRONG one, with widespread Repub. and Independent support, it's very possible he can carry the Republicans back into Congress with him. Especially since the margins of victory were SO close for the Dems last time.