You people are delusional. Just look at the popular vote so far. I would be surprised if Ron Paul even got as much as Perot got. (Which, again, was 0% of the Electoral College.) (And let’s not forget, Perot was actually in some debates.)
Are you insane? “At the very worst”? Did you miss the part about pissing of every rank-and-file Republican to where his son might not even get re-elected to the Senate 4 years from now…let alone win a Presidency? You’re not thinking long term.
And Paul has already “educated millions new young minds”, and will do that “between now and November” anyway. He doesn’t need to piss of literally millions of Americans who would otherwise put his son in the White House in 4 years.
In fact, the reality is the exact opposite of what you’re saying. There is virtually nothing to gain from Ron Paul running in a 3rd party for President in the 2012 election.