Teasus and Jesus, not to mention my favorite - Grilled Cheesus - are the main reason he'll never be elected. And there's not enough Independents out there to run as one.
The reason Paul won't do well is because Fox and the neo-cons hate him. Fox has posted distorted polls and belittled Paul every chance they get. Hannity absolutely hates him which I find funny because he never misses a chance to plant a kiss on the Teocon, Palin's ass. The problem for the GOP is if Paul runs as an independent he will steal more GOP votes than Democratic votes. He will be a right wing Nader.