Bob Barr Weighing Presidential Run
File: Former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr was an impeachment manager against President Bill Clinton in 1998. (AP video still)
Former Republican Georgia Rep. Bob Barr is considering a run for president on the Libertarian Party ticket.
Barr told FOX News on Tuesday that he should know in the next few days whether he is going to go for it.
If he does decide to make an announcement in the next few days, Barr said it “would not be in either Washington or Atlanta.“
Another source todl FOX News that the announcement should happen this weekend, probably on April 5. That is the day Barr is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the Heartland Libertarian Conference in Kansas City, Mo.
Barr, who joined the Libertarian Party after leaving Congress in 2003, is looking to attract conservatives who are unhappy with the choice of John McCain as the expected Republican presidential nominee. McCain and Barr are at odds primarily over the role of U.S troops in Iraq, although both agree that tough interrogation methods should not be permitted.
FITNews, who was first to report the possible presidential bid, wrote that Barr will receive the endorsement of Texas Republican Rep. Ron Paul, a GOP presidential candidate who is still technically in the race but has not suggested he would throw his support to McCain. McCain and Paul, who ran on the Libertarian Party presidential ticket in 1988, also are at odds primarily over the role of U.S. troops in Iraq.
Barr, who represented Georgia’s 7th Congressional District in the U.S. House from 1995-2003 and served as a House manager during impeachment proceedings against former President Bill Clinton, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution last week that he identifies closely with Paul’s outlook.
“Ron Paul tapped into a great deal of that dissatisfaction and that awareness. Unfortunately, working through the Republican party structure, it became impossible for him to really move forward with his movement. But we have to have ….a rallying point out there to harness that energy, that freedom in this election cycle,” he said.
Click here to read the FITNews article on Barr’s possible run for president.
FOX News’ David M. Lewkowict contributed to this report.
First off the fact that McCain might be the Republican nominee is the insurance that a Democrat will be president. I mean honestly ACTUAL Republicans want a Republican to vote for and Amnesty McCain is a democrat, its really that simple. McCain is the one pulling people away from the Republican base, which is strange since McCain is nowhere near being a Republican or a conservative. The true conservatives will not be voting for McCain. He is unelectable and is unfit to lead. He is clueless on the constitution which is the handbook of the American presidency.
Voting for your principles is in no way a waste of time, nor a waste of energy or money. I mean if Barr does not run then this election is going to be democrat vs democrat with no conservative input what so
ever……Im pretty sure nobody wants that. If Barr is the Libertarian nominee he will have my vote. I hope that the American public can wake up and realize that Amnesty McCain is a democrat aiding the democrats in winning the White House, no true conservative will waste their time on McCain’s socialist/communist type policies. The answer in this election is traditional conservatism, and Barr seems to be way closer to that than McCain. If you are a Republican, voting for a democrat anti-constitution/American like Amnesty McCain is the ACTUAL watd vote. Sorry to break it to you.
Oh yeah and Ron Paul was the ONLY conservtive Republican in the GOP this year….there’s just no doubt about that
First off the fact that McCain might be the Republican nominee is the insurance that a Democrat will be president. I mean honestly ACTUAL Republicans want a Republican to vote for and Amnesty McCain is a democrat, its really that simple. McCain is the one pulling people away from the Republican base, which is strange since McCain is nowhere near being a Republican or a conservative. The true conservatives will not be voting for McCain. He is unelectable and is unfit to lead. He is clueless on the constitution which is the handbook of the American presidency.
Voting for your principles is in no way a waste of time, nor is it a waste of energy or money. I mean if Barr does not run then this election is going to be democrat vs democrat with no conservative input what so
ever……Im pretty sure nobody wants that. If Barr is the Libertarian nominee he will have my vote. I hope that the American public can wake up and realize that Amnesty McCain is a democrat aiding the democrats in winning the White House, no true conservative will waste their time or money on McCain’s socialist/communist type policies. The answer in this election is traditional conservatism, and Barr seems to be way closer to that than McCain. If you are a Republican, voting for a democrat anti-constitution/American like Amnesty McCain is the ACTUAL wasted vote. Sorry to break it to you.
Oh yeah and Ron Paul was the ONLY conservtive Republican in the GOP this year….there’s just no 2 ways about that.
Dan…….absolutely. There are 3 democrats running and they’re all liars and crooks…….we’re going to get one no matter what. At least Obama and Clinton are honest about their party affiliations.
You people who continue to be loyal to the “Party”, regardless of how badly they are swindling you, and think you are voting for a lesser of 2 evils will get what you deserve in the long run
It’s just “pick your poison”. What flavor and color of Arsenic do you prefer??
The first 6 reactions in which I have read are the core problem with the government and it’s continuing decline. For the record, I am a Libertarian. If my state, Colorado, is heading for a democratic win, I will vote for McCain. If it is going to be Republican, I will most likely vote Libertarian. Quite a few Libertarians think this way due to the fact that, though many won’t admit it, they would rather see McCain as a president than either Obama or Clinton. For those who don’t think that a Libertarian should be on the presidential ticket, please do not complain about the fact that Republicans and Democrats are becoming more alike with each passing election, or how politicians are all corrupt and all the same. The reason for this, is because we have a tendency of thinking as a mass, or put a little simpler, like sheep. We should have more options on the ticket that just having to choose the lesser of two evils. If we would really like to see some change, if you are leaning towards McCain and you know your state will vote that way as well, vote Libertarian instead.
As for the funding, don’t worry. No, our tax dollars do not go to the Libertarian Party. However, if you are as disgusted as I am that we even have tax dollars going to political campaigns, maybe you SHOULD be voting Libertarian.
Those who are concerned about “party spoilers” and claim we can “go as far right as we want” after the election, in my opinion, are delusional. And I mean that with all due respect. McCain isn’t entitled to my vote just because he happens to be in the GOP, or because he might be slightly less of a “statist” than the Dem alternatives. I will vote for a limited government candidate, period. So if Barr runs and if I’m happy with his positions on the issues, Barr will get my vote. If there is no one on the ballot who advocates limited government, then I’ll write in my candidate or I won’t vote at all. McCain will have to earn my vote, and the votes of MANY others I know, by taking the side of limited government.
A race by Barr would only help to elect one of the idiot Democratic candidates!!
14 of 1885 delegates voted for Ron Paul. How can Bob Barr think that enough people agree with him to risk taking Republican votes?
Go, Barr, go!!!
Run, Barr, run!!!
Split that GOP right down the middle!!!
Woo-hoo!!!!
I have always had great respect for Bob Barr but I do not think this is a wise decision now. Any other time I would vote for him. I still would like to hear his views on immigration, the war, gun control, health care, etc. Bob, how about waiting until & discuss VP with McCain?
Don’t conservatives get a chance to vote in the general election for someone that thinks like themselves?