Bob Barr will hold a press conference on May 12 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. It seems likely he will make a formal declaration that he is seeking the Libertarian presidential nomination. Thanks to Third Party Watch.
Bob Barr will hold a press conference on May 12 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. It seems likely he will make a formal declaration that he is seeking the Libertarian presidential nomination. Thanks to Third Party Watch.
I wish he wouldn’t seek the Libertarian Party nomination. The party’s hardcore members don’t like him. And the public won’t get behind ANY candidate who belongs to what they see as a marginal party. Ross Perot had his most success as a presidential candidate running as an independent in ’92. John Anderson did reasonably well as an independent in ’80. The public will suport a strong candidate who runs as an independent. But as long as they view small 3rd parties and their candidates as kooks out on the fringes, there is no point in a serious candidate like Barr being affiliated with one.
Ross Perot did better running as the Reform Party nominee, than John Anderson did running as an independent in 1980. The Reform Party got 8.5% for president in 1996, but Anderson got 6.7% in 1980.
The Reform Party’s presidential candidate got over 5% in every single state in 1996. That was the first time any non-Democrat, non-Republican had polled over 5% in every single state, since the Republican Party had been born.
Bravo Bob Barr!
Seek the Green Party nomination!
Both Mike Gravel and Barr are excellent candidates for the Libertarians/Green Party.
The two together have a real opportunity to get past the magical 5% and win federal funds.
Ross Perot and the Reform Party did great work. We owe them our thanks.
I don’t think the LP is interested in Federal funds
In addition to what Richard wrote, Ross Perot running as the Reform Party nominee in 1996 did better than Eugene J. McCarthy did in 1976 when he was an independent candidate. Senator McCarthy received approximately one percent of the vote. We worked very, very hard for Gene, also (most people will never know just how hard we labored).
It is extremely difficult for someone to run as an independent candidate in this country. Even if a person has a moderate base of support in the electorate, it is still very hard to obtain fair ballot, debate, and media access. The Honorable Ross Perot did so well in 1992 because he had lots of money to spend (in addition to being loved by millions of people – as are other people too, such as Ralph Nader and the late Eugene McCarthy). I still think that the Nader-Gonzalez campain should start builing a new political party immediately! In California, I am working very hard in the effort to obtain the Peace and Freedom Party nomination for Mr. Nader.
Phil Sawyer, Member
Sacramento County Central Commitee
Peace and Freedom Party of California
Phil: Didn’t Eugene McCarthy cost the Democrat Jimmy Carter several states in ’76?
I think those who oppose Barr, are worried about him receiving too many votes, and too large a percentage.
The Radicals and Anarchists have had a lock-grip on the Libertarian Party ever since the days of Harry Browne. Now, looks like there’s a chance a real world Libertarian will win the nomination.
Of course, if Barr does prevail, he’s likely to gain millions of votes. Zogby has him polling at 4% already. That translates to roughly 3 to 4 million votes in the general. He’s likely to climb to 5 to 6 % as soon as he announces and secures the nomination. Could be as high as 5 million votes for Barr in November.
Of course, those in power in the LP would see their influence slip with such a success from the Barr camp. The Barr-rians, or how ’bout “Barr-barians” will take over the Party, no doubt, and move the LP towards the mainstream of American politics.
No wonder so many within the LP feel threatened by him.
Can we all pick a name for the Bob Barr supporters?
How’s Barr-istas?
Barr-barians is a bit negative.
Any other ideas?
I have mixed feelings about Bob Barr.
Hard core Libertarians like myself don’t like him.
We remember his crusade on the drug war.
But to have two major candiates in one election cycle speaking Libertarian ideas to the public may be too good to ignore. We already had Ron Paul who did better than anyone else we tried.
Having a former Republican discuss why he switched parties is a great selling feature.
John McCain Campain’s Finance attack against the first amendment is reason enough to waste a vote.
Mary Ruwart is my other choice. Libertarians have been speeking to right leaning voters for awhile.
Mary Ruwart speaks Libertarian ideas that appeal to left leaning voters.
Robert,
I wouldn’t think Ruwart speaks to left-leaning libertarians (I’m one depending on the day of the week). I see her as more of an anarchist rather than a libertarian. She makes Ron Paul look like a statist.
Steve: Richard Winger or Darcy Richardson could most likely anwswer your question about the 1976 presidential election. What I know is that our campaign (CCP/McCarthy ’76) had appeal to voters all across the political spectrum. In addition, I remember how fierce the opposition to us was from the Democratic Party – just as it was to John B. Anderson in 1980; Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996; Ralph Nader in 2000 and 2004; and will probably be the same this year when the Nader-Gonzalez campaign hits the radar.
The Perot campaigns probably actually helped the Democrats to elect and re-elect Bill Clinton as president. Other than that the Democratic Party likes to whine in general, go figure!