GOP Frets Barr Could Become Spoiler

[jon1856]

Now I have heard some stories about some Ron Paul supporters/followers not giving up but I had not heard of this until now. And yes, while I do agree that this will have minimal impact we have seen twice in past elections even the small things can have some sort of impact.
GOP Frets Barr Could Become Spoiler


By SHANNON McCAFFREY,
AP
Posted: 2008-06-23 07:08:22
Filed Under: Elections News, John McCain
ATLANTA (June 22) - 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 may be able to exploit the unease some die-hard conservatives still feel about Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee-in-waiting. 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 McCain's 2000 campaign but is not involved in this year's contest. Consumer advocate Nader is the third-party candidate many Democrats blame for helping George W. Bush narrowly win in 2000..................
http://news.aol.com/elections/story/...22130609990001

[nittanyalum]

Innnnteresting!

[Elephant Walk]

I will be voting for Barr instead of McCain, myself.

However, post-Ron Paul revolution...I think Barr may attract many, many, Democrats as well...I'm not sure how much of a spoiler Barr will be.

[RU OX Alum]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I will be voting for Barr instead of McCain, myself.

However, post-Ron Paul revolution...I think Barr may attract many, many, Democrats as well...I'm not sure how much of a spoiler Barr will be.

maybe, should be interesting

I'll always remember him for what he tried to do to the army though

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

I will be voting for Barr instead of McCain, myself.

However, post-Ron Paul revolution...I think Barr may attract many, many, Democrats as well...I'm not sure how much of a spoiler Barr will be.

I could see him swaying some of the more conservative Democrats - I think his views in general would be too conservative for those Dems whose views are further to the left.

I don't know what to make of this; he has just enough conservative in him to pull some voters from McCain. I'm hoping McCain doesn't allow Barr's candidacy to swing the election to Obama.

[Elephant Walk]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

I could see him swaying some of the more conservative Democrats - I think his views in general would be too conservative for those Dems whose views are further to the left.

I don't know what to make of this; he has just enough conservative in him to pull some voters from McCain. I'm hoping McCain doesn't allow Barr's candidacy to swing the election to Obama.

That's not what happened with some VERY VERY liberal Democrats who supported Ron Paul. If Bob Barr opposes the war similar to Ron Paul's position, he may end up with a sizeable portion of the super liberal one issue voters.

I don't know if that will happen with Barr, but it's possible.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

That's not what happened with some VERY VERY liberal Democrats who supported Ron Paul. If Bob Barr opposes the war similar to Ron Paul's position, he may end up with a sizeable portion of the super liberal one issue voters.

I don't know if that will happen with Barr, but it's possible.

That's true - it does depend a lot on how closely people look at his views, or how they feel on specific issues (i.e. a liberal Democrat who happens to favor one or two conservative policies). When I hear people with very liberal backgrounds praise Paul, I wonder how they feel about his positions on abortion and illegal immigration, as well as his opposition to most government spending proposals.

[33girl]

Can I say that I think the whole concept of a "spoiler" is BULL SHIT.

If people don't like a candidate enough to vote for him, to blame his loss on someone else from another party running is stupid and irresponsible. If people like YOU enough, they will vote for YOU, no matter who else is running.

/soapbox

[PGD-GRAD]

For the Barr effect, check out the recent Georgia presidential polls. With him in the race, Obama and McCain pull almost even with Barr getting 5-6% of the total vote. He apparently does not take away from Obama as much as from McCain. After all, Barr has always run as a very conservative Southern Republican. And he was the one who drove the train on the Clinton impeachment hearings, even when moderate Repubs. backed off.

So no--I don't see him pulling liberal Dems.; Obama's war policy works for them. But a conservative Southerner in the South running against Bush's huge deficit and spending and against some of McCain's more "liberal" views--yes, it could be interesting.

[PANTHERTEKE]

I just find it weird that someone on my glo's Grand Council is running for President. lol