Is running for President only about winning?

Yeah, I'm odd. Here is a portion of a blog from Wakeup America,

The people who have dropped out recently, Fred Thompson, Dennis Kucinich, Giuliani, last night and now John Edwards, have all done so because they realized that the time had come, they understood that for whatever reasons, their campaigns were not catching fire and no matter the support you get online, or the money collected, sometimes it just does not translate into the votes needed to win the nomination for your party.It is called realism and it is time Ron Paul, who took only 3 percent in last nights Florida primary, to face reality and do the same.... drop out with some dignity instead of being forced out. Of course he has no plans to do so, but some can face reality and some cannot I guess. (complete post here)

I'm not going to vote for Ron Paul. But I like having him in the debate. Isn't another reason to run to influence the debate? Dennis Kucinich forced the debate on the war. Tancredo and Hunter forced the debate on the immigration question. John Edwards was the traditional democrat, just like Ron Paul, is the libertarian republican; a contrast to the statist types running now.

The fewer the candidates, the more about personality it becomes and less about issues.

But then, the press doesn't care about issues, too hard to report on; easier to report on fluff stuff like whether John McCain is a hothead.