If Paul ran as third party candidate

If Ron Paul ran as a third party candidate, he would get 21% of the vote according to this poll.

Let us briefly examine third party candidate success.
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1996:
Perot ran under Reform Party, a party which Jesse Ventura and Pat Buchanan subscribed to.
Clinton   49% of vote
Dole      41% of vote
Perot     8% of vote

1992:
Perot ran as an independent
Clinton            43%
George H.W.  37.5%  
Perot               19%

1980:
John B. Anderson ran as independent (Note: Anderson lost Republican Primary)
Reagan              51%
Carter                41%
Anderson           7%

1968:
Wallace ran as American Independent Party, was proponent of segregation, larger entitlements, and anti-war
Nixon                43.4%
Humphrey          42.7%
Wallace             13.5%

1924:
La Follette ran as Progressive, this election arguably marked height of limited government conservatism
Coolidge        54%
Davis             29%
La Follette     16.5%

1892:
Weaver ran as Populist, with union and famrer support (groups relying on subsidies and gov't protection)
Cleveland 46%
Harrison   43%
Weaver    8.5%

1856:
Fillmore ran under Know Nothing Party
Buchanan   45% (proponent of slavery)
Fremont     33% (for freeing slaves)
Fillmore     22% (ignored issue of slavery)

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I believe if Ron Paul ran as an independent, he could be the most successful third party candidate in modern history. I am not advocating for or against it, or even considering practical consequences, such as an Obama re-election, I am just looking at statistics here.