Makes you think it's STUPID for Paul (or anyone else who loses the GOP nomination) to run 3rd party.
actually - it means he's already got (what we can agree is a pretty solid) 18% of the vote - his people are fanatics and a lot of people on the right are pissed that romney is a lib, and a lot of people on the left hate obama for his wars and continuation of bush policy.
Ron paul just has to move from 18% to 34% or more to win it.
IMAGINE the fervor of his base if he is in the race. jeebus... 33 and I and berzerker and hugo and many others will be out there handing out flyers, you can bet on that

Will obama's team have that much enthusiasm?
How about the romney base that will barely give him 25% in most polls?
Dude, Ron paul would catch fire and he could rocket up the polls. it's 18% today.... give us a few months... I'll be showing charts and pie graphs to my parents and cousins and everyone else I know.
(cue some asshat who jerks off to his own mother's pics to accuse me of disagreeing with some of RP's policies but still supporting him)