I think that a significant portion of his base of support is both hard-left nuts who believe that supporting a “Republican” (and Ron Paul is the epitome of RINO) who opposes the war is a better way to end it, as well as leftists who like making mischief, just like “Republicans for Kucinich” and “Republicans for Gravel.”
Oh, absolutely! That's been my thinking all along. They've done everything from make horse's rumps of themselves by acting loud and raucous during debates, and flooding media polls asking the question "Who do you think won tonight's debate?".