@Silverchild79,
I think if he get's the primary nailed down he's the best bet to beat the Dem's. While conventional logic would make you think he isn't a favorite with conservatives exit polls in Florida show that
he got 1/3rd of the "Very Conservative" vote
1/2 of the "Moderately Conservative" vote
and 2/3rds of the "Liberally Conservative" vote
The simple fact is that the majority of the party isn't as conservative as it once was. McCain just won in two of the more conservative primaries, SC and FLA. If he can win there he can win anywhere.
I know/ work with allot of ultra conservatives, they won't vote for a loser. So a Huckabee on a reform ticket or a Ron Paul won't really gain sway, they'll by and lage vote for whoever the party nominates. McCain will take the lion's share of independents from Hillary.
He's really our only electable option: Great with the Hispanic Vote, Great with Independants, Liberal & Moderate Conservatives, and even passable to the Ultra Conservative in a way Rudy actually wasn't (even if he was my fav candidate). We're not electing another ultra moral conservative, it won't happen because it looks too much like Bush. If we're going to have a Republican, it will have to be a moderate, which is better then Hillary if you are a conservative, and perfect for me :-D