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Barr can't afford to look past winning Libertarian nod

May 12, 2008 — In order to play spoiler in the general election, as there was so much speculation that he might Monday when he announced his presidential candidacy, Bob Barr first has to do one little thing: Win the nomination of his adopted Libertarian Party.

That, I know from personal experience, is not an automatic. In 2004, I was honored to be the moderator for the Libertarian presidential candidates’ debate at the party’s national convention in Atlanta. It was the only event of this sort I’ve even been involved in that had an immediate and clear impact.

Aaron Russo, a Hollywood producer who had campaigned energetically on the platform of updating the party’s message machine, came into Atlanta the favorite in that year’s competition. But Michael Badnarik, an investment advisor, made such an impressive statement of the party’s principles in the debate that he won the nomination.

This year’s debate at the Libertarian national convention in Denver is scheduled to be broadcast by CSPAN Saturday, May 24, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Even if you’re not tempted to swing third party this year, you might want to set your TIVOs. This could be fun.

Start with the innovative new way the party is planning to control participation this year. According to Andrew Davis, a spokesman for the party, each of the expected 800 to 900 convention delegates will be given a token upon registering, which they can give to the candidate they favor.

If a candidate collects 30 tokens, he or she gets a 16-minute slot in the opening sessions for nomination speeches. To get into the debate, however, a candidate has to have at least 10 percent of all the tokens.

This introduces an interesting strategic element into the proceedings, because the candidates can amass as many tokens as they can collect, adding some suspense to who makes the cut.

There are at least six candidates, including Barr, who have announced for the Libertarian nomination, but in theory a candidate who kept all the others from reaching the 10 percent level could stand on the stage alone.

That’s what you’ve got to like about Libertarians.

Davis described Barr as “without doubt a frontrunner, but not the frontrunner” in the race, an important distinction to make in a contest that will be decided by a few hundred people with very strong views over a weekend. His national profile will take Barr a long way, but the former Republican congressman will have to show the party faithful he’s now one of them, also.

Barr’s main rival on the Libertarian left is Mary Ruwart, a former pharmaceutical researcher who’s been the subject of a controversy within the party over a passage in her book, “Short Answers to the Tough Questions,” in which she extended her Libertarian principles to the point of arguing against the banning of child pornography, saying children have the right to “willingly participate in sexual acts...even if it’s distasteful to us personally.” That’s very controversial within the party, but then so is Barr’s past opposition to the legalization of drugs.

Another candidate likely to make it on the debate stage, and closer to Barr on the political spectrum, is Wayne Allyn Root, a motivational speaker and television sports analyst who has achieved some renown as an odds-maker. That alone should cause some concern in the Barr camp – if the guy shows up, he must like his chances.

The party-hopping Mike Gravel, who has also announced his candidacy for the Green Party presidential nomination, is considered unlikely to make the debate cut, and we’re not as certain about two other announced candidates, Steve Kubby and George Phillies.

But one thing we know from experience: Any candidate who makes it on that stage in Denver has a shot at the Libertarian nomination.