DEL.ICIO.USCandidate from Georgia says he's not trying to be GOP 'spoiler'
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/25/08
Denver — Georgia's Bob Barr won a long and tense battle Sunday for the 2008 Libertarian Party's presidential nomination and now faces the daunting task of doing what no third-party candidate has done: Win in November.
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It took six ballots and nearly five hours of voting at the Libertarian National Convention before the former four-term congressman defeated Texas business consultant Mary Ruwart for the party's bid.
Barr, who until 2006 was a Republican, took 54 percent of the vote after Las Vegas odds-maker Wayne Allyn Root dropped out following the fifth ballot and endorsed Barr. Delegates subsequently selected Root to be Barr's running mate.
"Y'all party today," Barr told the more than 600 delegates at the Sheraton Hotel. "I hope we celebrate, because I'm sure we'll all leave here with the strongest ticket in the history of the Libertarian Party."
Barr emphasized that only 163 days remain until the Nov. 4 general election.
"Do not waste one single day," Barr said.
In a news conference following the nominating vote, Barr's campaign manager, Russell Verney, said the candidate's headquarters would be Atlanta and that the campaign hopes to raise $30 million to battle Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain and whichever Democrat emerges with that party's nomination.
Barr, 59, said the Libertarian Party anticipates being on the ballot in at least 48 states, but work remains to be done in 20 of those to ensure access. Oklahoma and West Virginia remain obstacles, he said.
Neither Barr nor Verney would say which states they believe they can be most competitive in, but Barr said his home state should be considered in play.
"If by 'in play' you mean winning Georgia, yes, we will certainly work toward that end," Barr said. "There are already some areas in some states we are looking at prioritizing our efforts."
Both men agreed that the first steps of the campaign will be to establish the Atlanta campaign headquarters, fill out the campaign team and begin working with the national party to secure ballot access in as many states as possible.
Barr said he anticipates qualifying for the national presidential debates this fall.
Barr had to overcome the objections of many Libertarians who viewed him as an interloper and who questioned his commitment to Libertarian ideals.
Ruwart said Barr had not embraced fully the Libertarian message on key party issues, such as the legalization of all drugs or the ending of all federal taxation.
Georgia had 35 delegates at the convention, and 33 voted for Barr on all six ballots. Two went for Root.
Georgia delegate James Bell, who supported Barr, said the outcome was never certain.
"I don't take anything for granted in the Libertarian Party convention, because there's no preconceived notion of what could happen, unlike the Democrats and Republicans. It's a genuine process," Bell said.
In the end, enough delegates saw a chance with Barr to take the party to new heights.
Having someone with Barr's relatively high profile "means great things for the Libertarian Party," national party spokesman Andrew Davis said. "It means the best year the Libertarian Party has ever had in its 35-year history."
A former federal prosecutor, Barr represented the northwest suburbs of Atlanta for four terms in Congress after his election in 1994. He gained national attention for his role in President Clinton's impeachment proceedings.
In 2002, Barr left his district, moving to the district of a popular Republican colleague, Rep. John Linder. Barr challenged Linder in that year's primary and lost.
Barr announced his candidacy for the Libertarian presidential nomination just three weeks ago. On Sunday, he reiterated that he would campaign to win, not just to affect the outcome by siphoning votes from the other parties' nominees.
"I am a competitor, and I am in this to win," Barr said. "I do not view the role of the Libertarian Party as spoiler, and I have no intention of being a spoiler."
Several pollsters included Barr in recent surveys about November's general election.
Barr got 7 percent against Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, according to a poll Barr's exploratory committee commissioned from Pulse Opinion Strategies in early April. A poll by Rasmussen Reports from earlier this month showed Barr getting 6 percent nationally.
No Libertarian candidate for president has ever done that well. In 1980, Libertarian Edward Clark won 1.06 percent of the vote, and his 921,128 votes were the most ever for a Libertarian.
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More on ajc.com
- Join the political parties Tuesday (11/01/2008)
- Libertarians pick Barr as nominee (05/26/2008)
- Barr begins quest for Libertarian nomination (05/23/2008)
- Georgia Libertarians hit the road for Bob Barr (05/22/2008)
- GOP candidates see little money from Barr PAC (05/19/2008)
- Barr's campaign for White House taking shape (04/26/2008)
- BOB BARR FOR PRESIDENT? Campaign taking shape (04/26/2008)
- Bob Barr's presidential bid taking shape (04/25/2008)
- Barr forms presidential exploratory committee (04/07/2008)
- Libertarian Barr wants to send signal to GOP (11/04/2008)
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Comments
By Jim Miller
Jul 7, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
The above article was innaccurate in it's description of why Bob Barr lost the primary election and it wasn't because he moved into a more popular congressman's district. He led John Linder 45% to 42% two weeks before the primary election. The Libertarian party then began running a commercial that the National Journal dubbed "The mosts dramatic political commercial of 2002." It showed my late wife Cheryl, clearly with little time left, saying "My name is Cheryl Miller. I have multiple sclerosis. I use medical marijuana for my multiple sclerosis. Bob Barr thinks I should be in jail for using my medicine. Why would you do that to me...Bob?" Two weeks later he lost to Linder 64% to 36%. Medical marijuana defeated Bob Barr. Start getting used to it, because that's a fact.
By szcdh xhag
May 31, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
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By szcdh xhag
May 31, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this
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By szcdh xhag
May 31, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this
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By szcdh xhag
May 31, 2008 8:07 AM | Link to this
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By charles lawlesss
May 29, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this
Where is the Libertarian Campaigns officail website? Ive looked everywhere and cannot find it. Ive looked at www.BarrRoot08.com www.BarrRoot.com My vote is up for grab becuase I am not happy with either McCain or Obama. Ive like what ive seen of Bob Barr but dont know much about Wayne root and would like to know more about him if he is going to be Barrs veep vp Can someone direct me to the official campaign site of BarrRoot2008 Ive went every where. Ive even went to WWW.BarrRoot2008.com and there is nothing there. I did stumble on a pretty good anti McCain site called
WWW.McCanes.com it suggests that mccain is too old to be president and has lots of funny videos of "Old man McCain moments." Please if anyone can direct me to the officail libertarian campaign ticket website let me know, My friend has not been able to find it either. If the Libertarians expect to do well they should get on the ball with the internet comapaigning. They should have these sites up all ready.
By Charles
May 29, 2008 2:51 PM | Link to this
Where is the official campaign website? I cant find a BarrRoot08 site? Do they have one? I thought they were going to be all over the site by now. They need to get a grass roots effort going why havnt they gotten a campaign site yet?? Ive checked BarrRoot.com
BarrRoot08.com and BarRoot2008.com I still havnt found any campaign website. Could someone let me know where the tickets website is. I really like Bob Barr but dont know much about Wayne Root. I would like to learn more. They really need a site. My vote is definitely available. Dont like the other candidates much. thanks. Is it BarrRoot.com or BarrRoot08.com
By Hugh Haynsworth
May 29, 2008 1:18 AM | Link to this
Scottwww
How can you not consider Teddy Roosevelt as not a great Republican. He broke up the dictatorial companies that drove out competition and raised prices on Americans beyond what they could afford. Monopolies are anti-Democracy and Teddy was the only President who fought them successfully. His speak softly and carry a big stick defended many American interests that nobody else was willing to fight. Ronald Reagan was the closest President to claim that title and he failed.
By scottwww
May 28, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this
In my lifetime, Reagan was the best of Republican presidents.
Congress had far better Republican results than we have seen in the last 10 years and more (most recently think of Newt Gingrich and the Contract with America). Cooperation across the aisle is what is killing us. McCain leads that charge as Senator, and now as presidential candidate. We need to oppose the left, not become like them. I'll oppose the one who cozies up to my enemy.
I am not a historian, but what I know of them, Goldwater was a good Republican. Perhaps Eisenhower. Not so much T. Roosevelt. How about Lincoln?
Take the greatest Democrats as contrast and you may have a better idea of what I oppose. F. Roosevelt is at the top of that list. Johnson is right up there. On the list, though not even close to the two on top would be Kennedy. Clinton was mediocre, at best. Carter just doesn't belong on any list that includes the word great (except that of greatest failures).
We're really screwed because our weakling Republican congressmen are likely to act even more weakly. The future is bleak. The nation is charging headlong into liberalism.
This year, a third party appears to be the only recourse.
See http://politics.dominates.us
By ATC
May 27, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
A vote for that which you believe is never wasted. If you vote for one who does not win, then at least, what you have to say is heard. The winner takes into account your voice when you disagreed with him (her).
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