Pro Life anti-Fed conservatives tend to balk at his drug legalization and isolationism (foreign aid is bad, but foreign wars are not. ) In a general election he would have the same problem, compounded by the fact that liberals who like his dovish foreign policy and most of his social agenda balk at his Pro Life anti-socialism. On top of everything else, Obama would like nothing better than to be able to run against a GOP House with approval ratings near single digits.

Romney is the GOPs only chance and, realistically, brings the same assets as Paul to the table in a general election, plus many he lacks. If Romney cannot win the primary or general elections, Paul definitely cannot.