Barr announces Libertarian White House bid
(Update at bottom: Barr says not running to play spoiler)
Former Republican Rep. Bob Barr is expected to announce that he's running for president as a Libertarian.
His candidacy would be a wild card in the White House race that many believe would hurt Republican Sen. John McCain.
Barr had scheduled a news conference Monday. He first must win the Libertarian nomination at the party's national convention that begins May 22. Party officials consider him a front-runner thanks to the national profile he developed as a Georgia congressman from 1995 to 2003.
Barr, 59, helped lead Bill Clinton's impeachment. He quit the Republican Party two years ago, saying he had grown disillusioned with its failure to shrink government and its willingness to scale back civil liberties in fighting terrorism.
The Washington Times reported that "Barr says even people who have tried to dissuade him understand why he thinks it important to raise issues from what he calls a 'genuinely conservative' perspective and to offer alternatives to the positions of the two major-party candidates."
"In the month since we formed our exploratory committee, not a single Republican who has spoken with me to try and convince me not to seek the Libertarian nomination has disagreed with my reasons for considering a run," Barr told the paper.
The article continues, "Most Republicans who asked him not to run 'also said they understand why I'd run and why John McCain is not conservative and will not seriously tackle the growth in government power and spending,' he said. 'Some said they would vote for me if I ran, but for the sake of the Republican Party, they would prefer I didn't.'"
Barr will be speaking at the National Press Club at 11:00am ET, in an address sponsored by the Virginia public relations firm Advocacy Ink.
Barr's exploratory web site can be accessed at this link.
'We intend to succeed'
Former Republican Rep. Bob Barr launched a Libertarian Party presidential bid Monday, saying voters are hungry for an alternative to the status quo who would dramatically cut the federal government.
His candidacy throws a wild card into the White House race that many believe could peel away votes from Republican Sen. John McCain given the candidates' similar positions on fiscal policy.
Barr said he is not getting into the race to play spoiler or to make a point.
"I've heard from Americans from all walks of life ... they want a choice," he said at a news conference in Washington. "They believe that America has more and better to offer than what the current political situation is serving up to us."
"We intend to succeed," he said.
Barr first must win the Libertarian nomination at the party's national convention that begins May 22. Party officials consider him a front-runner thanks to the national profile he developed as a Georgia congressman from 1995 to 2003.
If he wins the White House, he said he would immediately freeze discretionary spending in Washington. He also would begin withdrawing troops from Iraq and consider slashing spending at federal agencies such as the departments of education and commerce — as well as at overseas military bases.
Barr, 59, quit the Republican Party two years ago, saying he had grown disillusioned with its failure to shrink government and its willingness to scale back civil liberties in fighting terrorism.
He currently runs a lobbying and public affairs firm with offices in Atlanta and outside Washington.
The 2004 Libertarian presidential candidate, Michael Badnarik, took less than 1 percent of the vote, placing fourth behind President Bush, Democrat John Kerry and Independent Ralph Nader.
(with wire reports)
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