I really did like George Allen when I lived in Virginia. He was down to earth and common sense, but his biggest downfall is he has no pizzazz. No excitement = no presidency.
I do agree. Allen will start to look better because these attacks have backfired. But fundamentally he doesn't have what Republicans will be looking for after the non-ideological Bush presidency. I think Rudy will be the leader of the "Anybody but Hillary" faction of the GOP and the rest will be fighting for either the "Conservative Stalwart" or "Acceptable Compromise" candidate. Mitt fits into the latter. I know people push for Newt for the CS category, but I don't think he'll make it. He has great ideas. He also has dumb ideas for policy prescriptions. He makes them both sound great, but the presidency isn't a place for brilliant policy. It's the place for leadership. For big ideas.