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Comment Here on Barr by Josh Marshall
Since comments aren't allowed on the articles that appear on the front
page, I'm setting up this way for people to comment in the comments.
I don't think we'll need Barr's help to win the presidency, but he might attract the anti-McCain Republicans who need to vote for someone else.
Comments?
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Comments (5)
Is there any chance that Ron Paul might endorse Barr? Adding a Perot-like component to McCain's potential perfect storm seems too good to be true, but with massive AA turnout, general disgust with Bush and even a small amount of vote-siphoning from the right, Obama might squeak by in some unthinkably red states.
On the other hand, I know some disgruntled Paulistas who would choose Obama over McCain, so there's that danger.
May 13, 2008 2:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
I think you're right that Barr's entry into the race complicates things although in possibly non-impactful ways. I think Barr's history will bar him from getting Dr. Paul's endorsement. Do you think they're compatible?
May 13, 2008 12:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Ron Paul had kind things to say recently about Barack. So there's a chance he throws his support to the Democrats. Paul just may be won over by Obama's pragmatism in this difficult, difficult time for the country.
(I think Bob Barr is doing this just to get a little of that Ron Pual libertarian glory.)
May 13, 2008 2:40 AM | Reply | Permalink
They are going to have to decide whether the vote has any meaning in their state. Really red states won't matter and they might as well register the protest.
Any state that is by voting day looking iffy will create the choice of letting Obama win or voting for McCain over a protest vote that would help Obama. Unless these folks are really determined to vote against a black, they might stay home, not vote, or split some way between Obama and McCain - advantage to Obama for any votes he picks up. I do think, having been a Libertarian at one time, the Paul supporters would be more likely to vote for Obama than McCain or Barr.
What interests me is this stat from the GOP WV primary. McCain only won 1% of the caucus vote. Caucus states usually don't have quite the same turnout as primary states do. Still, he clearly can't ignore the state.
Ultimately I am hoping that all the choices and decisions to be made in Nov will overwhelm the less informed GOP voters enough to stay home. With a few big servings of helplessness and hopelessness on the side. Given the trend in the evangelical churches to back off from the GOP candidates, they may not get much direction from the pulpits to make the choice either.
I think would should consider adding to the GOP problems by using the Rush Limbaugh operation book. If we all try to make one small donation to Barr's campaign, it will keep him running ads or sending mailers against McCain from the right.
Rush might even endorse Barr.
Yes my glasses have a sort of rose tint. But I don't have them on right now.
May 13, 2008 3:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
I was also wondering if Barr would have as much influence as Ron Paul, who with Huckabee, is still drawing away 15% or 20% of the Rep primary vote from McBush. Although he's very much a mixed bag, what I like is that Ron Paul reminds Republicans of what their party was like before the neocons turned it into a tool of radical conservativism, big brother government and global empire.
May 13, 2008 10:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
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