ATLANTA --- A fiery former GOP congressman who gained national prominence for doggedly pursuing impeachment of President Clinton has some Republicans worried he'll play spoiler in a tight presidential contest.
Bob Barr's Libertarian Party bid for the White House is the longest of long shots, but political experts say he might be able to exploit the unease some die-hard conservatives feel about Sen. John McCain. Combined with the surge in turnout among Democrats during the primaries and a difficult political climate for Republicans, they see what could be a recipe for trouble for the GOP.
"Bob could be the Ralph Nader of 2008," said Dan Schnur, a GOP consultant in California who worked on Mr. McCain's 2000 campaign but is not involved in this year's contest. Consumer advocate Mr. Nader is the third-party candidate many Democrats blame for helping President Bush narrowly win in 2000.
Rep. John Linder, a Republican who defeated Mr. Barr in 2002 after Georgia's Democratic-controlled Legislature redrew congressional boundaries to put the two lawmakers in the same district, said he didn't think Mr. Barr would top 4 percent of the vote.
"But in some states that may be enough," Mr. Linder said.
Democrats seem gleeful at the prospect. Tad Devine, a Democratic strategist, said Republicans "are crazy if they aren't worried about Barr."
"Undoubtedly any votes he gets come out of McCain's votes," Mr. Devine said.
Mr. Barr, a former federal prosecutor, was swept into Congress with more than 70 other House GOP freshmen in 1994. An articulate, sometimes outspoken orator, he gained attention as the first lawmaker to call for Mr. Clinton's resignation over the Monica Lewinsky scandal, and he was one of the House prosecutors who pressed the impeachment case in the Senate.
Mr. Barr also was known during his four terms in the House for his opposition to softening drug laws and his support for gun rights.
Some Republicans aren't worried about Mr. Barr's candidacy.
"No reasonable conservative is going to vote for anyone except McCain," said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
Georgia and its 15 electoral votes have been expected to go Republican on election night, and McCain spokesman Jeffrey Sadosky said he remained confident they still would.
Comments
Barr could become the Ross Perot of 2008, who gave us decades of Clintons and all the fun they've brought to America: sex, lies, gays in the military, legislation thru judicial misaction, Madeline Albright, Al Gore, etc. If Barr wants to serve this nation instead of his ego, he needs to withdraw before we become Obamoanians.
Obama=4 more years of Clinton
McCain=4 more years of W Bush
Bob Barr= NONE OF THE ABOVE, less bad than the others. If the Republicans are afraid of Barr they should have not turned into RHINO's. VOTE CONSERVATIVE vote Barr. A vote for McCain is a wasted vote.
Maybe he will do to McCain what Ralph Nader did to Gore. We can only hope.
I don't know why a person who claims to be conservative would vote for Obama which a vote for Barr will be. You can't think that will fix or change anything, so what's the point? A closet Lib maybe?
If you want a big government, big spending Federal Government, McCain is your MAN. If you want a small Goverment & balanced budget Barr is The man. The choice is simple, waste your vote on McCain if you want.
Barr might be a better President than McCain but he doesn't stand a chance at all beating McCain or Obama. So, a vote for Barr will be actually a vote for Obama. I wish the republican party had put up someone better than McCain but they didn't. So we are stuck with him. If Obama becomes President we are in major trouble.
tom I have read your posts for some time and I know you are not stupid. So what are you playing at? The last time I heard such was when people was voting Perot and I don't think you fall into that category. Do you really think that Barr can win even one lonely precinct? I didn't think so. So, help Obama, he will win with you or without you anyhow. You won't hurt McCain, he has not the slightest chance of defeating Obama.
How about looking at it this way:......Obama=4 more years of Carter........McCain= 4 more years ow "W".........Bob Barr= 4 more years of Reagan... A vote for Barr is a vote for Barr no more no less not a vote for Obama no more than a vote for McCain is actually a vote for Obama. My last words until JACK writes something really stupid.
WhiskeyDick is just jealous because he has never been able to get it up.
Here's your chance you Social Liberals, Civil Libertarians, and Fiscal Conservatives. You Ron Paul Supporters. Those of you who still insist on voting with your wallets while your freedoms are being thrown away by supprting RepubliCON CONservatives. Vote for the Libertarian Vote for Bob Barr.
Okay, Tom. But don't tell me you believe that Barr actually has a chance in ..., you can't...naw.......... I don't understand putting the 3 candidates on the same playing level, that's a mighty lofty dream. Nobody even knows who he is.
a vote for barr is a vote for my conscience.............. i prefer ron paul but i would vote for marion williams as a protest before i voted for the duopoly.
sickgraci, whisky dick is probably greatful he cant if you were his only option. Fast Eddie Obama feasts off of puppets like you. You are just the next idiot that walked on the car lot. And Fast Eddie has sold you a lemon. NOBAMA 57! Vote McCain.
tomgahunter, if you want more bog govn't, more of your salary (if you have one) going to the do nothing crowd and lots more grasshoppers than ants, go ahead and vote either b-barack or Barr!
LaTwon..You know and I know that it will be your conscience only, no one else will ever know that you protested. You are only hurting your country, ouch! (And I usually agree with you.)
If you are a true conservative Bob Bar should receive your vote.
owenjet..Why..who would benefit from that little deed? NOt you or I.
My comment about Whiskey Dick's jealousy due to his Erectile Dysfunction is removed yet he can keep his far more sophomoric screen name that eludes to his personal problem. Yep, must be the Chronicle.
Someone report my above comments to the Chronicle. Then maybe they'll get a clue. Not that I have a problem throwing around terms like Whiskey Dick but they apparently do and don't know it when it's dangling in their face.
Barr is an idiot who will not amount to a pimple on an elephant's [filtered word]!
Forget Babbling Bob. Write in Bizarro 08!!! Strange is Change! Remember Ross Perot got 20% in his run. Wouldn't it be strange if Bizarro could garner 10-20%-a complete unknown, outsider, non-politician. Teach the Aristocrats in D.C. we still have a voice. They will all need the little blue pill after we are through with them. They can't pluck us anymore with a limp noodle!!! We will castrate them all in our second term. All of you join me and we will Change the world. Those losers in D.C. have had plenty of chance and they have accomplished nothing of significance. Tuck Fhem! That is vietnamese for good fortune-hee,hee,hee.
I am not naive enough to believe that the Prez will change the world. It takes Congress but they are incapable of change, but I predict after the mysterious outbreak of Ebola virus and the loss of 99.999% of them, then change will come much easier hoo,hah,hah,hah. The Prez's power lies in foreign affairs, and I am tired of dictatorships. We will ask the new Congress for their suggestions. If their suggestions suck then I say a national referendum asking the public how we should mold our foreign policy for the future. I want people to support my actions-well at least most of them. Now we have few who support our actions-including me. Bizarro 08'-Washington D.C. Tuck Fhem!! See I wish the best for Washington.
I love me some bob barr
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