Third party = ignored
running GOP = less ignored
You think RP is ignored now??? It would be ten times worse as 3rd party. As long as he's in the primary, he will get some news coverage, he will be in the debates, he will be taken more seriously. Though its not fair that's the way it is, the two party system dominates so we have to work within it.
3rd party equals no debates, Even less attention from the media, and even less people who have heard or looked into Ron Paul. There have been libertarian and constitution minded presidential candidates as 3rd party candidates in the past. How many can you name??? 1 or 2? What about your friends and family? probably none?
Our best chance is the GOP. Its a painful process. Ron Paul is defending the old Republican platform of Robert Taft or Goldwater.
He gets no positive reaction at all besides from liberty lovers when he talks about Taft and Goldwater. These neocons don't care. The days of Taft and Goldwater only live in Ron Paul people. Just as much of Ron Paul support comes from Dems and Indies than actual members of the GOP.
There is no evidence to say we will get completely ignored as 3rd party, it is a different element. There has not been a serious third party candidate with national attention since Perot (who got a crapload of attention on the news back then). Less ignored is all right though (even if that would be the case)? The only time they pay attention to us is to spit on us, defraud us, disparage us, insult us, and the like. If that is the attention we get, I would rather have none at all.
Of course we won't get the attention of the two party candidates.....however we get the least attention of the 4 candidates in the GOP primaries right now. Not much would change media wise, except ROn would be in the general.