::Yeah, there are lots of objectivist sites on the web, so a google search would skew results towards description of Rand as a philosopher.    
 :::Shermer in his piece on Objectivist Cultism referes to her as novelist-philospher http://www.2think.org/02_2_she.shtml    
 :::I could check Tibor Machan's memoir, he knew Rand and is a libertarian. He very likely considers Rand a philospher and is a PhD in philosphy. I'll get the info and post back what I find.    
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