Bob Barr in the News

Posted by Doug Craig at 6/17/2008 9:21 AM
Categories: Bob Barr
The dream nominee is McCain's nightmare

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By Don McKee
Columnist

Bob Barr has pumped new life into the Libertarian Party since winning its presidential nomination and a shot at spoiling Republican John McCain's chances.

"Our phones are ringing off the hook and the e-mail inquiries have increased," Georgia party chairman Daniel Adams exulted last week in a news release. "We are seeing an increase in volunteerism, memberships and inquiries from the media has increased dramatically. We have never seen anything like this."

Barr, a former Republican congressman from Marietta, has generated more news coverage for the little Libertarian party in eight weeks than it received in the previous eight years, a LP official said.

Likewise, Texas Libertarians have been "energized" and are "extremely excited" over Barr's candidacy, a party official told a reporter before Barr spoke Saturday at the state convention in Fort Worth. They were so excited that about 125 turned out for lunch and the speech by their dream candidate.

The Libertarian Party's dream candidate is John McCain's nightmare.

Even Georgia is now considered in play.

Polls have shown Barr drawing 7-8 percent of the vote in Georgia and taking more than 11 percent of independents, a group that otherwise would be expected to go to McCain.

North Carolina is another state where Barr's candidacy will help Democrat Barack Obama close the gap with McCain.

An early June survey by Public Policy Polling of Raleigh shortly before Hillary Clinton suspended her campaign showed Barr with 6 percent of the vote in North Carolina but much stronger among independents. He drew 9 percent of independents versus McCain's 38 percent and Obama's 35 percent, with 18 percent undecided.

Barr's spoiler role was confirmed by the polling firm's president, Dean Debnam. He said "the early indication is that Bob Barr's presence on the ballot could be a good sign" for the Democratic nominee.

"He's likely to siphon off more voters who would otherwise be inclined to vote for Mr. McCain" than would hold true for Obama or Clinton, Debnam said.

Meanwhile, Ron Paul, the Libertarian masquerading as a Republican, ended his presidential campaign and drew praise from Barr, no doubt angling for an endorsement. Although most of Paul's supporters likely will switch to Barr, no endorsement was given by Paul but he did venture that Barr is "saying the things he should be saying" and "can have a very positive effect in this campaign."

Barr is hustling around the country with a slew of speeches and appearances. As a Georgia Libertarian official put it: "Bob Barr is everywhere." That includes an appearance next Thursday in Jim R. Miller Park here in Cobb at an Americans for Prosperity "Hot Air" Event - quite aptly named.

About the only bright spot for Republicans is Ralph Nader's quadrennial run for the presidency. Polls show him pulling 4 to 5 percent and he could garner enough otherwise Democrat votes to make a difference in McCain's favor.

Maybe if we're lucky Barr and Nader will cancel each other out.

dmckee9613@aol.com

 

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