It would seem pretty obvious that these "lesser candidates" are really running for Vice President, not POTUS. They know they don't have a shot at the top spot, but what the hell, why not try for number two with a possible shot at number one down the road, just like Nixon and Bush '41?
You put Hunter or Newt in as vp with Rudy and I still won't vote for Rudy.
Nixon was already prominent, due to the Hiss investigation. Bush had run a strong second to Reagan in the primary. None of these guys are as well-known as Nixon is and none are likely to run strong.
The one potential candidate Medved left out entirely was Gingrich.