Ralph Z. Hallow of the Washington Times on Rudy:

Social conservatives -- contrary to conventional wisdom -- will seriously consider supporting the Republican presidential aspirations of Rudolph W. Giuliani even though he's a pro-choice, anti-gun New Yorker, political analysts and operatives say.

That sounds vaguely familiar.

Hallow includes quotes from a number of GOP activists, including an utterly predictable slam from conservative Richard Viguerie:

"If Rudy Giuliani -- who is wrong on all of the social issues as well as the Second Amendment and is a blank slate on most other important issues such as judges, taxes and size of government -- is the Republican presidential nominee, I would expect a mass exit of most conservatives from the Republican Party in 2008," warns Richard A. Viguerie, a prominent conservative-movement fundraiser and author.

Viguerie is whistling past the graveyard. The only way Rudy can win the nomination is by convincing enough conservatives that he's acceptable, and if he'is able to do that, then by definition there won't be a "mass exodus" of conservatives in 2008.

Moreover, any support Rudy might lose from conservatives in the general election will be more than offset by his appeal among Independents, moderates, and even some Democrats (depending on who their nominee is). So while Viguerie is trying to bully and exert influence over the process, what he's really doing is threatening to marginalize himself and other hardcore conservatives.

Again, I want to make clear I'm not saying Rudy is going to win the nomination, or even that it's probable at this point.
But it is possible - as even Michael Barone agrees.