Will Bob Barr be the next Ross Perot?

[hyphenate]

Will Barr help to split the Republican ticket? Will those Republicans disenchanted with the moderate ticket that McCain represents vote instead for Bob Barr?

It happened in 1992, it could happen again.

But we have our own problem, and it won't go away fast. Ralph Nader poses a similar problem with the Democratic ticket. However, after being the spoiler for both the 2000 and 2004 tickets, Nader is proving a pest more than he is proving anything else.

Strangely enough, those who run on the third party tickets don't have to fight hand over fist to raise money for their campaigns. It's nice, I guess, to be on the ballot without doing any actual work, but there you have it--third party candidates also have reduced credibility because they haven't been in the press and are often times unknown qualities.

Some people moan and groan about the two main parties in this country, but getting a third party to come into the public eye as much as either the Democratic or Republican party means spending money to bring themselves to the fore, and they aren't willing to do that. They might present a "big name" as their candidate, but he mostly becomes an asterisk in the end result.

Barr is going to be more viable this year because of his ties to the far right and his visibility during the Clinton years, but he has enough skeletons in his closet to have both Republicans and Democrats use as weapons. Whether a percentage of the far right votes for him over McCain is going to ultimately be an interesting game to watch.

[Zynx]

1. The biggest myth in electoral history is that Perot cost Bush the election.

He took a lot of people who were incredibly pissed at Bush that otherwise would have either stayed home or voted Clinton. The exit polling at the time confirmed this.

[onehandle]

2. He could Nader McCain in Georgia. We have a Lot of Looneytarians here.

And this is where Barr served.

Nader won't affect shit.

[wuushew]

3. What evidence of a strong Nader effect do you offer?

His name is barely mentioned in my social circles.

[hyphenate]

6. I don't care about Nader

myself. In Nader's case, I was merely saying that in 2000 (especially) he did bite into Gore's votes in Florida (and we know that now because of the recount), but I don't see Nader being a threat to Obama. No, I do think that Barr might attract some of the far right, though, who are intolerant of some of McCain's more moderate policies. How many times have we seen the far right pundits convulse with the thought of McCain gaining the presidency? Let's face it--the far right has very little reason to care much about this election, since they see (largely) very little difference between the liberal Democratic ticket and the moderate Republican ticket. WE see a lot more of a difference, but then we would. Remember, we are capable of seeing WIDE differences, especially since McCain sold his soul to King George the Horrific to get a shot at the wh.

[deadmessengers]

4. Barr CAN swing Georgia.

Georgia has four factors that could potentially hurt McCain in the General election:

1) Barr's presence in the race. Bob Barr is very well known in Georgia, and somewhat respected.
2) The ubiquitous fundamental-cases here. The fundie crowd REALLY doesn't like McCain - and this state went to Huckabee in a big way during the primaries.
3) Georgia has the second-highest proportion of African-American voters in the US (Mississippi is first). AAs, especially around Metro Atlanta, will turn out in DROVES to vote for Obama.
4) The mortgage/foreclosure crisis is hitting the economy around metro Atlanta very hard, with a cascading effect across skilled trades all over Georgia.

I really think my home state of Georgia could swing to Obama this year. That's 15 electoral votes, or a 30 vote swing. At the very least, a very well funded Obama can make McCain spend precious money and time campaigning in a state that in any other election year he could otherwise take for granted.

[Happyhippychick]

5. Totally agree with you.

[YDogg]

8. agreed

[Canuckistanian]

7. Let's hope. After all, Perot assured Clinton's win.

And if that's what it takes to get a Dem in the White House, then so be it.

Although I don't think it'll be essential for this year's election.

The tides are turning FAST for the GOP.

[mdmc]

9. I hope so

he has my vote