Is she really any crazier than Dick Cheney?

Conservatives want live babies so they can raise them to be dead soldiers. - George Carlin

is Clinical paranoia a disqualifying characteristic for public office?

Not in the US, especially not if it is seen by the RW as throwing out chum to the base.  It may be paranoia or it may be an act, but even if it is paranoia, it is a culturally normative paranoia among 20-30% of the electorate.  This is what was meant by the line: "Paranoia strikes deep in the Heartland!"  Under the appropriate circumstances the RW can recruit much more support for such beliefs, especially when they have a presentable front man, such as Ronnie or W.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."