Another thought. If Mitt wins the nomination, which of the current candidats do you think would agre to run as a third party candidate?
Good question. A lot depends on whether it’s a “rogue” third-party candidacy, or a genuine party schism like the original Whig-Republican break-up. I think there’s a possibility of it being the latter; at some point the base will just give up on the current Republican party. Conservatives walking out will make RINOs happy; they think they can then recruit disaffected moderate Democrats and rule from the center. (Note: THEY think that; I don’t)
If it’s a “rogue” third party, I’d hope none the current candidates would do such a thing - although I could Ron Paul going that way. If the latter, I’d think quite a few might transfer loyalty to the new “conservative” conservative party.