There are rumblings that Paul is now actually considering a third partyt run, which is why for the first time with Russert, he rfused to rule it out...
Perot has always been an ass with a ax to grind with the Bush family... Too many Americans did not know him for what he really was until he had already done the damage.
This time, mainstream Republicans do seem to see Paul for the nutjob he really is. But I agree with your point that every conservative vote MUST be counted in ‘08...
Frankly, I don't get all this crud about how a potential third party Ron Paul candidacy hurts the GOP. This jerk's saying everything the Leftist Democrats want to say (but can't) about withdrawing from the world immediately, coddling Islamic terrorism and Iranian nuclear ambitions, and attacking corporatists. There's no question that a lot of his new-found support comes not from libertarians, but liberals (and even farther Leftists). If GOP strategists can't find a way to paint this guy as Hillary's doppelganger, they should all be lined up against a wall and shot.