Dood, erasing Hillary as a 2008 threat by defeating her in 2006 trumps any happenstance or possibility that might exist for Rudi in 2008.
The most important priority it denying her the Oval Office. That can best be done by defeating her Senate run in 2006. Rudi is the man to do that.
Do Not Lose Focus.
It's not about who the GOP nominee is in 2008. It is about Denying Hillary The Oval Office. The best way to do that is stopping her Senate re-election run in 2006.
Think long and hard about how you will deal with 4-8 years of Hillary as president. That's what the risk is.
Rudi should be running for Senate next year. Period. Anything else does the party, and the nation, a horrible disservice.