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June 23, 2008
Posted: 03:17 PM ET
 Former Republican congressman Bob Barr is running as a Libertarian candidate for president.
Former Republican congressman Bob Barr is running as a Libertarian candidate for president.

FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:

Republicans have something else to worry about besides the war in Iraq, the economy and President Bush. Former Republican congressman Bob Barr is running as a Libertarian candidate for president. Some in the GOP are worried Barr's candidacy will take away conservative votes from John McCain.

They fear that the Barr factor combined with high turnout and enthusiasm among the Democratic base could spell trouble for McCain. One Republican says he doesn't think Barr would get more than 4 percent of the vote... but that might be enough in some states.

And some Democrats agree... saying that Republicans are crazy if they aren't worried about Barr – who was the first lawmaker to call for Bill Clinton's resignation over the Monica Lewinsky scandal. He also made a name for himself fighting against the loosening of drug laws and supporting gun rights. The Libertarian Party is already on the ballot in 30 states – and is aiming for the other 20.

Not everyone is worried though. Newt Gingrich says "no reasonable conservative is going to vote for anyone except McCain." And Barr himself insists he won't play the role of a spoiler – he says that if McCain loses, it will be due to his own message and vision.

It's worth remembering Bill Clinton won the presidency twice without ever getting a majority of the popular vote because of the third party candidate Ross Perot.

Here’s my question to you: Should Republicans worry that Libertarian Bob Barr will take away votes from John McCain?

Interested to know which ones made it on air?

Read the rest of this entry »

Filed under: Bob Barr



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About this blog

Jack Cafferty sounds off hourly on the Situation Room on the stories crossing his radar. Now, you can check in with Jack online to see what he's thinking and weigh in with your own comments online and on TV.

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Jack Cafferty: It's Getting Ugly Out ThereJack Cafferty is the author of a new book, "Now or Never: Getting Down to the Business of Saving Our American Dream," now available.

Read excerpts about Jack's battle with alcoholism and Jack's philosophy on parenting.


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