That's not too many.
We had 13 others ~ some of whom had actually been Democrat candidates, or campaign workers, or candidates for OTHER parties.
In effect, the 12 non-lifelong Conservative republicans were always out there picking up their 1% or 2% totals and making Mitt's 20% readings look good!
Without those 11, Mitt would have been scoring in the low to mid teens in the primaries.
When he ran in Virginia ~ after his boy Bolling had manipulated things so that he faced only Ron Paul, he did get something like 60%, but it was of a record low turnout barely 20% of a normal Republican presidential primary ~ or, 12%!!!!!!
We must make sure the RNC accepts candidate declarations with an eye to the integrity of the party credentials brought by the candidates.
The start of the race may have had 16. But it is always the final stretch which determines the winner. If either Newt or Rick dropped out in the final stretch, Romney would be toast.