I agree- the gop simply does not have a winner this cycle. This is like 1996 when they had nobody who was going to win, and ended up nominating Dole.

-- Guiliani is pro-choice. Hell will freeze over before the GOP nominates a pro-choice candidate. Abortion is the key deal breaking issue on that side. Half the party would desert them in the general if they nominate a pro-choice candidate, let alone one from a northeastern blue state.

-- McCain is widely distrusted on the right. I have read already of some right wing powerbrokers who adamantly say that they will never support McCain. They think he is a maverick and a closet moderate who will sell conservatives down the river once he gets in office. McCain is also not a strong campaigner IMO, he is cold and analytical and his age and demeanor won't play well on the campaign trail.

-- Romney is a mormon who used to be pro-choice and pro-gay rights. Those videos posted on youtube from when he ran against Kennedy for the Senate and pronounced himself the gay rights candidate have all but killed his chances. If he had any to begin with, because the evangelicals will not support a mormon. Nominate him and you put the entire bible belt, where mormonism is considered a cult, into play.

None of the other candidates are any more electable. Brownback is too conservative and unknown. Hagel is a dove. Gingrich? Please. Pataki? Don't make me laugh.

Who do they have? The GOP has nobody who can unite that party, nobody who is acceptable to both the conservative gop base and the moderate general election base. They do not have a winner. And I think they know it too.