Ron Paul has no where near enough support to be a credible candidate for the Republican nomination but he does have enough support, and contributors, to possibly have more of an impact than most third party candidates in a general election race. There has been speculation that Paul might run as an independent or as a Libertarian Party candidate. Paul generally answers such questions in a manner which leaves the door open. An answer to an interview with Howard Fineman shows that this door is being left wide open:
If you don’t win, will you support the GOP nominee and promise not to run on the Libertarian or any other ticket?
I’m not promising any of those things. If we have a Republican nominee that has convinced me they have come around on foreign policy … I would consider it. As far as running on a third-party ticket, or [as an] independent, or Libertarian, I have no plans to do that.Well, “no plans” doesn’t mean you won’t.
The best way I can state it is: I have no plans. I can’t conceive of it. But I guess in life there aren’t that many absolutes.
No candidate would be likely to admit to contemplating a third party run while still seeking the nomination of a major party. His statement that he is not promising to either support the Republican candidate or that he won’t run on another ticket will keep speculation alive that Paul is not going to disappear after the Republican nomination is settled.
Update: Paul Declines Invitation To Run as Libertarian
