Worst? He placed third. That made him the strongest third party candidate that year. He may not have reached Wallace/Perot levels, or even Nader levels, but he didn't underperform by any stretch of the imagination.
1988 wasn't the right time for any third party candidate. Bush had enough appeal to keep the moderates and the Christian right under one big tent. Had Robertson won the nomination, things would have been differant.
I am not comparing him to other small candidates in 1988.
I am telling that Ron Paul performed worse than Thurmond, Wallace, Wallace, McCarthy, Anderson, Perot, Nader and Gary Johnson.
Ron Paul had Cynthia McKinney's level of influence and respect in 1988; he didn't really become the Ron Paul we know and love (or laugh at and hate
) until 2007.
