Paul ending his campaign doesn’t necessarily mean Bob Barr will benefit from all his supporters, or the $35 million Ron Paul managed to raise. Even though Barr seems “to fit Paul’s mold” the best, there is still the Constitution Party , led by Chuck Baldwin and the Green Party, led by Ralph Nader, to take into consideration, besides the fact that some might endorse McCain.

One can easily predict that even if Barr has all the support of the 1.16 million of Paul’s people, he will trail behind McCain and Obama.

Paul has recently praised Barr during an interview on CNN. “[He] talks our language, so I do really believe that he can have a very positive effect in this campaign and let the people know that limited government is a very, very important message,” said Ron Paul.

If Barr reaches 15 percent in the national polls, he might be eligible to participate in the presidential debates.

BARR GOING STRONG
By Aaron Gould Sheinin (AJC 6/14/08)
Abstract by Johana Nadler

To better understand this third fast growing party we must define it. Libertarian with a capital “L” is the party and libertarian the “state of mind” are basically the same but the latter does not necessarily vote for the party bearing its name. The libertarian philosophy succinctly put believes in the individual freedom of people to pursue their lives as they see fit, without harming anyone, a small government and following the Constitution to the letter. Libertarian thoughts cover freedom of speech, international scene - including military defense - , taxation and drug prohibition. Thomas Jefferson said it best when he stated “That government is best which governs least.”

Already branded “a spoiler” by Fox New conservative commentator Sean Hannity, Bob Barr hopes to tap into Ron Paul 1.1 million votes he garnered in the primaries and caucuses. Paul got more than 20 percent of the Republican vote in Idaho, Washington State, Montana and North Dakota, strong libertarian strongholds. Barr is likely to attract votes in Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico and New Hampshire, and might inflict some serious damage in Georgia. In overall, Merle Black, a professor of politics at Emory University in Atlanta, doesn’t foresee a negative impact in the Republicans chance for the presidential election in November.

Barr could take some votes away from John McCain, [b]ut right now, I think his potential would be in the single digits. “The Republicans could lose some white votes and still have enough to carry the state,” he said.

However, without Paul on the ballot, many of Barr’s supporters may not vote at all and Ron Paul doesn’t plan to help at all stated Jesse Benton, Paul’s spokesman. “Bob and Ron are former colleagues and they’re friends”, Bento said. “But that’s where the relationship ends.”

BOB BARR IS THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY CHOICE
By Julie Bosman (NYTime 6/1/08)
Abstract by Johana Nadler
click here to view original article

Denver, Colorado, is the site of the 2008 Libertarian National Convention. In the convention hall at the Sheraton Denver Hotel, the fight is going on strong. Today, the nominee will be chosen. Former four-term Georgia congressman Bob Barr, who switched parties in 2006, is fighting old-school Libertarians such as Mary Ruwart of Texas and Wayne Allyn Root, from Las Vegas.

Barr said while addressing his supporters “We have some relatively important work to do tonight, but the tremendous work you’ve done, laying the groundwork, talking to our delegates and making sure they understand our message if freedom and what a Bob Barr candidate will bring this party and to this country have been absolutely essential.”

To participate in the debate each candidate must collect 56 tokens or 10 percent of the total. In all eight candidates collected enough to have the floor. Barr, along with Root and Ruwart each got 94 tokens, sign that Barr’s nomination wasn’t such a sure thing as he and his supporters expected. One of the contenders was former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel of Alaska, who until earlier this year was running for the Democratic presidential nomination.

BOB BARR BATTLES TO BECOME THE LIBERTARIAN NOMINEE
By Aaron Gould Sheinin (AJC 5/25/08)
Abstract by Johana Nadler