TPM Reader JM responds to my post from last night on Rudy ...

I bet all the Democratic frontrunners are praying that Rudy wins the nomination. Why? Because negative campaign advertising is more effective than any other political tactic, and Rudy’s life reads as if it’s been scripted for cinematic evisceration. No one has pulled the big guns out against Rudy yet. He’s got a target on his back the size of Montana’s sky: his personal indiscretions, his penchant for befriending mobbed up guys and sexually abusive priests, and his flip-flopping on issues near and dear to his base. Then there’s Rudy’s perceived strength: 9/11. Talk to the FDNY about that one. Once the real heroes of 9/11 have told their side of the story in 30 second snippets with the Twin Towers devastation swirling in the background, Mr. 9/11 will be Mr. Smoldering Ruin. If you doubt any of this, take a look at Robert Greenwald’s short videos on Rudy. There’s a powerful, multi-faceted anti-Rudy narrative lurking out there waiting for a wide audience. As the 2004 election proved, swiftboating works. This time around, should Rudy get the nod, the swiftboating will have the added benefit of being, you know, true.

I agree with a lot of this. Indeed, I've written about a lot of it. There's a lot to be said about Rudy's judgment by the fact that he put a mobbed-up cop in charge of the NYPD on the basis of his having done a good job as Rudy's driver. He's also being advised on foreign policy by a pack of loons. And I hasten to point out that I didn't say Rudy might be a strong candidate but that I think he might be the strongest. Big difference.

That said, I didn't think Rudy'd be at the head of the pack in October 2007. So we'll see.