A WET BLANKET FOR BOB BARR SUPPORTERS
July 8th, 2008, 9:51 am · 2 Comments · posted by Dan Lehr
The New York Observer’s Steve Kornacki debunks the theory that Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr will be a factor on a national scale.
Read “Time for a Bob Barr Reality Check” here.
The figures he cites of Libertarian party showings in past presidential contests are hard to dispute:
1972: 0.00% (3,674 votes nationally)
1976: 0.2%
1980: 1.1%
1984: 0.3%
1988: 0.47%
1992: 0.28%
1996: 0.5%
2000: 0.36%
2004: .32%
Far more important in my eyes is what Barr’s going to do in Georgia. It’s his home state, & a decent showing (say, if he won his former Congressional district or garnered a threshold of 4% statewide) makes the Peach State an essential ‘get’ for Obama & McCain. Click here for the latest Georgia poll that backs up that claim.
Stay tuned.
What do you think?
UPDATE: Eric weighs in:
Two words: Ross Perot… He got 19% of the vote in 1992. With $4 gas, the worst housing market in 70 years, a collapsed dollar, a towering national debt, and the imminent re-appearance of Jimmy Carter stagflation, the voters are even more disgusted today, with 85% of the population saying the country is headed in the wrong direction.
The guy is already at 6% in the latest Zogby Poll. I think it’s quite possible for Barr to meet the 10% polling criteria to get into the Google/You Tube Presidential debate. If he does, then Perot’s numbers aren’t out of the question.
I think you have some good points, Eric - but check out this post & compare how Perot was doing at this time in 1992 compared to Barr. Barr may do better than expected, but he needs to get on the national stage but fast to make an impact.
UPDATE #2: Our resident newsroom Libertarian, Melydia, says:
I agree it’s time for a Bob Barr reality check. Most unfortunately, the Libertarian Party and all other independents continue to be disenfranchised by a corrupt process which alienates all but the GOP & the Dems. The MSM need fodder for 24/7 news coverage so they like to discuss the “potential” Barr factor and the “possibilities” of him affecting the Georgia vote. Talk is cheap.
What say you?
July 8th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Two words: Ross Perot… He got 19% of the vote in 1992. With $4 gas, the worst housing market in 70 years, a collapsed dollar, a towering national debt, and the imminent re-appearance of Jimmy Carter stagflation, the voters are even more disgusted today, with 85% of the population saying the country is headed in the wrong direction.
The guy is already at 6% in the latest Zogby Poll. I think it’s quite possible for Barr to meet the 10% polling criteria to get into the Google/You Tube Presidential debate. If he does, then Perot’s numbers aren’t out of the question.
July 8th, 2008 at 11:46 am
I agree it’s time for a Bob Barr reality check. Most unfortunately, the Libertarian Party and all other independents continue to be disenfranchised by a corrupt process which alienates all but the GOP & the Dems. The MSM need fodder for 24/7 news coverage so they like to discuss the “potential” Barr factor and the “possibilities” of him affecting the Georgia vote. Talk is cheap.