I tend to agree with that statement. Al Gore would hold all the blue states.
Contrary to what many on this forum think, Giuliani will hold all the southern states against Hillary. That would not be true in a race with Al Gore. I don't see where Giuliani would make up for these lost red southern states against a perceived moderate Democrat like Gore.
In a battle of the Tennesseans, Gore would have an advantage in that he would have a large block of electoral votes in the blue states already locked up. Thompson would be defending more vulnerable states and Gore could really go on the offensive in battleground states. Given the current political environment, Gore would have a very good shot at carrying Ohio against Thompson. Gore came within 537 votes of carrying Florida against another southern candidate so you have to say that Florida is within his reach. Gore would probably get New Hampshire this time. The other state that I think that a moderate Democrat like Gore could pick up with hard campaigning is Missouri.
I'm sorry, he would not hold Southern states and he would have a hard time pulling in blue dog Democrats. Rudy is pro-abort and anti-gun. That is a lethal combination for a GOP nominee. It means that person will not hold the base and will not attract Reagan Dems. And Rudy cannot run leftwards for more votes on a pro-war stance. He is boxed in by his past. The GOP would be suicidal to climb in that box with him.