Kathleen Harris did not have the “republican base”. Just look around on FR for the comments at the time. In fact, Harris was a great example against Rudy.
Here was a candidate who, throughout the primary process, was the front-runner by a good margin, just like Rudy. There was a strong negative reaction to her by a substantial minority of the base, but no other candidate could get enough of the remainder of the vote to come close to her numbers. So the “inevitable” people all stuck with her, after all she was the front-runner.
And then, having won the primary, all those dissaffected republicans who really didn’t like her did NOT come back in the general election. Instead, they skipped her, or voted for her opponent.
It is true that in the end, primaries pick the person who is liked by the most members of the party. BUT, they should also be a chance for the voters in the party to assess whether a nominee is so devisive to the party that they can’t pull things together.
Kathleen was that in Florida. Blackwell was that in Ohio. And polling indicates Rudy is that for 2008.
Harris had the conservative base - only. With Rudy, his numbers amongst independents are very strong. Rudy’s hurdle is getting a win in the primaries, once he breaks into the general election, his base broadens. so its not like Harris at all.