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Friday, May 23, 2008
The competition
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver — Earlier we mentioned Russ Verney, who’s managing Bob Barr’s bid for the Libertarian nomination. Verney says that Barr’s top competition to win the party’s nod on Sunday are former Democratic U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska, Vegas odds maker Wayne Allyn Root and veteran Libertarian activist Mary Ruwart of Texas.
Gravel figures “that sounds about right.”
“I’m not sure if he’s our competition, or if we’re his,” Gravel said, from the exhibition hall of the 2008 Libertarian National Convention.
Gravel and Barr have a few things in common. They both are relatively new to the Libertarian Party. Barr joined in 2006 after serving as a Republican congressman for four terms. Gravel joined the party just this year after ending a long-shot bid for the Democratic nomination.
Gravel, like Verney, isn’t sure where the race stands at this point; who’s ahead and who’s trailing. He knows Barr came in with strong support and believes it will come down to multiple ballots on Sunday.
“We go into balloting and our voting starts, people will do their shifting,” Gravel said. “I don’t know. I don’t want to predict.”
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
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A quick word from Bob Barr
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver — Bob Barr is sitting in the back of the Georgia delegation section of the Libertarian Convention. He’s listening to his friend Richard Viguerie, a Libertarian and conservative stalwart, give the keynote address of the second day of the 2008 Libertarian National Convention.
Before Vigurie spoke, however, Barr said in a brief interview that there are many differences between this convention and the Republican conventions he was more familiar with as a four-term congressman from Georgia.
“Here, people want to talk about policy, and issues,” Barr said. “At Republican conventions anymore, it’s all about who has how much money. This is like what Republican conventions used to be like.”
Some aspects of political conventions are universal, however, as Barr will host a cocktail reception tonight at the hotel.
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
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Barr’s man on the ground
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Denver — Russell Verney is easy to spot at the 2008 Libertarian National Conventionr.
The veteran political operative is almost certainly the best-dressed, wearing the nicest suit and the swankiest tie.
His dress is a symbol, Verney said, one he hopes to bring to the Libertarian Party. Verney is Bob Barr’s campaign manager. Barr, of course, is the former Georgia congressman, the former Republican congressman, who is now seeking the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination. That will be decided on Sunday. The party has a chance, Verney said, to join “the big leagues.”
“If Bob Barr is their candidate, this will be a credible, professional campaign,” said Verney, who worked on Ross Perot’s presidential campaign in 1992. “If he’s not, the Libertarian Party goes back into anonymity for another four years.”
— Aaron Gould Sheinin
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In Denver, not everyone’s throwing out the welcome mat for Bob Barr
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Reasononline has this interesting take by David Weigel on the first hours of the Libertarian Party convention in Denver and the reception that Bob Barr’s getting.
Here’s a snippet that includes some good background on the LP’s internal dynamics:
It would be a bit much, right now, to call the 2008 Libertarian nomination fight “heated” or “bitter.” The delegates trickling in to Denver, ever-aware that this city hosted the embryonic stirrings of the party 36 years ago, are happy to see each other. They’re gorging on free food, face-to-face conversations with people they’ve known only online, and brainy discussions that aren’t so easy to come by back home.
Still, there’s a battle gearing up, and not just over the headline fight over who will win the nomination. Two years ago, the self-described “reform caucus” of the party took over a convention in Portland and shaved the platform from 61 planks to a pocket-sized 15. The non-aggression principle in the party’s declaration survived, but only narrowly. Even before Bob Barr entered this race, radicals, who estimate they have one-third of conventioneers firmly on their side, were planning to use Denver to “Restore ‘04” and resurrect the older, more far-reaching platform.
The specter of a recent Republican transplant leading the LP has cranked up this platform fight to 11. A flyer labeled “CALL TO ACTION: The Libertarian Party—Not For Sale!” is being distributed around the Sheraton, spelling out a six-point theory of the right-wing takeover strategy. “The Barr campaign’s principals are veteran ‘partyjackers,’” says the flyer. Smoking gun? The appearance at the convention of conservative direct mail pioneer Richard Viguerie, who is filling a speaking slot that was once going to go to radio host Neal Boortz. “If [Barr and Viguerie are] successful, the Libertarian Party will become just one more mouthpiece for malcontent Republicans.”
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Cagle helps to oust a House Republican incumbent
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Dick Pettys at InsiderAdvantage has come across evidence of further deterioration in the relationship between Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and Speaker Glenn Richardson’s crowd over in the House.
Cagle, it seems, “is taking sides in the Republican primary against a House incumbent, Rep. Amos Amerson of Dahlonega,” Pettys reports. “Amerson is one of only a handful of House incumbents with primary opposition. Cagle has agreed to host a fundraiser for Amerson’s challenger, Steve Gooch, chairman of the Lumpkin County Commission.”
Amerson is chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee.
Cagle’s spokeswoman, Jaillene Hunter, says Gooch is a close friend of the lieutenant governor, and that Cagle intends no further poaching on House land.
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Why John McCain should book a room in Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No doubt you’ve seen the reports that Republican John McCain, like Democrat Barack Obama, has quietly begun searching for a running mate.
McCain is hosting at least three Republicans mentioned as potential running mates at his home this weekend — Govs. Charlie Crist of Florida and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.
McCain could save time and plane fare just by coming to Atlanta in fewer than two weeks. The Republican Governors Association is to gather here June 3-4.
Two attendees, Crist and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, are routinely in the top tier of vice presidential possibilities. Haley Barbour of Mississippi and host Sonny Perdue of Georgia have also been mentioned — though their names have surfaced less lately.
Barbour’s stock may have dropped as a result of the loss of that congressional seat last week in Mississippi. The governor, while widely recognized for his competency during the Hurricane Katrina recovery, actively campaigned for the defeated Republican in the race.
Other governors headed this way: Mark Sanford of South Carolina, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Jim Douglas of Vermont, and Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island. The topic of the meeting? How to be pro-business and environmentally effective at the same time.
