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Well, from what I have learned in some of my poli. sci. classes, ideological parties and candidates to have an influence on policy and still matter. For example, in the primaries, when Alan Keyes garnered anywhere from 5-28% of the vote, this was undoubtedly a message to the GOP leaders that there is still a significant Religious Right base out there that they best not abandon. Whether they like it or not, the Republican Party cannot win a presidential election without the Religious Right vote. Also, why do you think that organizations such as the Family Research Council and Heritage Foundation are so influential in the Republican Party? Because ideological pure candidates, parities, and organizations still matter. No one in the Republican Party was laughing when Ross Perot garnered around 20% of the national vote, causing George Bush Sr. to lose the election.

Yeah, but how much damage did Clinton do in eight years thanks to the ideological purists who went third party and got him elected in 1992?

Too much for my tastes. Alan Keyes, though, got stomped twice in general elections as a Senate candidate, IIRC.