Here's my take. Keyes does have a certain gift for words. And the President as well as other conservative or conservative leaning incumbents running in districts, states or a nation that is not safe can let Keyes carry the water for them while being able to ride on his oratorical coattails when he strikes gold and able to have deniability when necessary. Other than California, New York or Mass, Chicago and Illinois is the next big media outlet. Keys, while probably not being able to win his office will draw out conservative and Christian right leainging folks for that may impact or effect the more narrow campaigns. What that strategy lacks is there may be turn out for Keyes, but they will only vote on his campaign and ignore the other portions of their ballot. Remember, Keysters are for the most part single issue voters.
He could accomplish all that campaigning for a legitimate candidate. I like Keyes a lot, I think we'd be a better country if he was elected to office, but it needs to be legit, not carpetbagging.