Was the Dude a Candidate?

Could it be that the Dude was a Candidate? Did he die in the crash of Oceanic 815? Was the Seattle Seven somehow related to the Dharma Initiative? I think so, and here is my proof. Watch as The Dude is "touched" by Jacob:




Of course it could be that the other Lebowski was the Candidate, given the mistaken identity, but it don't think Jacob makes mistakes like that.