There are three reasons for #NeverTrump Republicans to want a third party "true conservative" candidate to run, even though they'd have no chance of winning:
-It creates a "nuclear bunker" for this splinter section of the party. In the event that Trump goes full Akin and becomes toxic for the party, then there'll at least be a flag to rally around for this splinter group of the party that's sealed off from Trump, and can help rebuild the party, post-2016.
-In the event that Trump proves toxic not just for a splinter group of Republican elites but also a splinter group of Republican *voters*, it creates an added presidential option for voters, lessening any potential dropoff in turnout, so that people still show up at the polls to vote for downballot Republicans.
-For some of the #NeverTrumpers, Clinton winning is absolutely preferable to Trump winning (and a 3rd party candidacy a way to help make that happen), because Trump winning would remake the GOP in Trump's image, whereas Trump losing would give them (#NeverTrump elites) a better chance of continuing to hold influence within the party.
I count on them being rational. What good is influence within the party if the party is without influence?
