The Libertarians nominated former Georgia Republican Representative, Bob Barr, as their nominee for President. It was a spirited nomination process; taking 6 ballots and involving three viable candidates: Bob Barr, Mary Ruwart, and Wayne Root. I was flipping around channels and caught some of the tail end of the process. At that point, Root was in 3rd place and had been eliminated and was allowed to take the podium. Excuse me for saying so, but he came off as kind of a spazz; punctuating his remarks with “BAM!” or something like that, as if he was channeling Emeril. In any event, he told his supporters to vote for Barr so that he could be the Vice Presidential nominee. After that, he was interviewed and suggested that he would appeal to millions of disaffected online gambling enthusiasts. I know that Libertarians are sort of a boutique political party, but that struck me as an especially limited demographic for a Presidential campaign.
In any event, Barr should be an interesting candidate. He should appeal to rabidly anti-Clinton Republicans in that he was a big mover and shaker in the Clinton impeachment. He’s developed some libertarian credentials over the past decade or so. And, I suppose he could cause some worries in Georgia, his home state. If Obama is turning out big numbers, particularly with the black vote in Georgia, and Barr is drawing off disaffected Georgia Republicans, that could potentially bring the state into play, I suppose.
Let’s remember Ralph Nader got 100,000 votes in Florida in 2000,with Bush winning the state by just over 500 votes.We can assume most of Nader’s votes would have been Gore votes. GA ( above mentioned) and NC have already been pointed to as 2 states where Barr could knock out McCain.
Convention wisdom says that Libertarian candidates siphon votes from Republicans, but I wouldn’t be too sure that dynamic will play out here. If Barr empahsizes Iraq as one of his top three campaign issues, he’s every bit as likely to draw from *whomever the Democratic candidate may be*.
I do hope that he doesn’t run as being ‘more Republican than McCain’. In a year when the R brand is the epitome of damaged goods, it’s the last approach he should take.
As for Root, gambling is his professional business, so he emphasizes what he knows- not that it’s a way to broaden appeal. Just saying.
Revising our voting laws for some type of preference voting would fix this entire problem, and allow people to vote for who they think will best represent them.
Barr is clearly the best choice.
Keep in mind he also Barr sued Bill Clinton, James Carville and Larry Flynt for $30 million claiming they defamed him by conspiring to spread misinformation about his private life in retaliation for Barr’s support of the Clinton impeachment effort.
With conservatives uncomfortable with McCain, Barr’s view on abortion and his authorship of DOMA will appeal the them. As a member of the ACLU he has a civil liberties record that makes him comfortable with liberals.
If the Libertarian extremist left with hush for another six months, Barr will present a united front.
Barr is clearly the best choice. Hopefully his campaign will find the traction needed to overcome insurmountable obstacles allowing him to invest the next 4 years rubber stamping pork with a grade A “Veto.”
Having seen him speak several times and met him, I can say that he is a formidable guy for civil libertarians. He’s a true believer, whatever his socially conservative credentials may suggest.
Still, between Barr and Paul, I can’t help but take pleasure in seeing conservatives bear a cross that holds Nader times two.