Mojo, I agree with you. I believe Romney and Rudy are both equally strong as candidates. My first preference would be Mitt but I would have no problem supporting Rudy.
I also like, and respect, Fred. I just haven’t seen, yet, that he can or will be a strong candidate. And that’s my primary concern. We need someone who can beat the Wicked Witch, and I don’t know if Fred is that man.
Exactamundo.
I love Fred. He is a nice guy, and would make a fabulous uncle at Thanksgiving dinner.
But he strikes me as too .... curmudgeon-ee to attract those essential cross-over votes, especially in the electoral-vote heavy Northeast and West.
In today's world, it takes a quick thinker with moxy to be an effective candidate. A savvy public persona.
Is that fair? Nah, it's not.
But it's reality.
I truly believe Romney would win over a lot of undecideds.
Rudy might also. But that gain would be offset by a huge split in the GOP base, due to his liberal stances on illegal immigration, abortion, homo marriage, etc.