will a true moderate be a serious contender for the gop nomination?

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

Pro-choice, pro-gay right, pro-gun control Republican isn't a moderate for you? I know he was extremely hawkish, but otherwise, he was a moderate Republican. Fiscally conservative and socially liberal. He just had an awful campaign strategy and the primary schedule wasn't a help either. If McCain hadn't run, he may have won New Hampshire assuming Romney still imploded.

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I kind of echo officepark's question. Who is considered moderate? There's no reason to run a center left Republican because we'd never win the base. Likewise, the question can be asked whether the Democrats will ever run a moderate? Would the liberal left vote for them?

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

JS, I was referring to Giuliani as a moderate. I do realize he does possess hawkish views, but if those subsided as Iraq et al. slows down, I see him backing off that. Those aside, I think Mr. Giuliani is very moderate. He's a small government, hands off on social issues guy but does have a neocon streak.

McCain was hardly a moderate, but he did not answer to the far right until he selected Palin. I do believe McCain had stated in his past that he would accept gay marriage if there was a ceremony, but he obviously backed off that statement during the GOP primaries.