What do you think? In a Rudy v. Hillary matchup, who would prevail?

Well, I don’t have a firm opinion on this yet (I probably won’t have one until just before election day 2008), but here are a few observations to take with the proverbial grain of thought.

1. It would be, of course, a battle of the centrists. The ideologues on both sides would probably be frustrated and vote for who they feel would be the least objectionable candidate.

2. New York State would be up for grabs.

3. Hillary’s strategy should be to get Rudy to lose his temper. (Memo to Hillary: bring a pet ferret to one of the debates—that should do it.)

4. Mike Bloomberg: is he going to run or not? If he does, Hillary cruises to victory.

5. Those who love to call Hillary Hildabeeste or Shrillary should think again. I saw how she wins people over her Senate campaigns. To me, at least, the more I see of her, the more centrist and reasonable she seems.

6. Back to the debates: Those who see them on TV will think Hillary’s won; those who listen on the radio will think Rudy won. (Read your McLuhan.) And those who just read the transcript? Yes, well . . .

Rudy did stay on point and on message. He does have a problem with his Roe v. Wade stand.