GOP appears paying little heed to Barr

WASHINGTON, July 10 (UPI) -- Republicans apparently are showing little concern over the third-party U.S. presidential campaign of former GOP Rep. Bob Barr, party leaders indicate.

Barr, a four-term conservative U.S. representative from Georgia, is the Libertarian Party nominee for president this year. But, the National Republican Committee declines to comment, even in states where a strong Barr showing seems capable of hurting John McCain, the presumed GOP nominee, Politico, a Washington publication, reported Thursday.

Usually, third-party candidates are targeted early in an effort to make sure they don't appear on key state ballots, notably the 2004 race when Democrats aggressively challenged ballot petitions by independent candidate Ralph Nader. Many Democrats claimed Nader, the Green Party nominee in 2000, had cost Al Gore the presidency.

Republicans, however, are showing little heed to Barr's candidacy.

"We're confident that McCain's record of putting the country before politics will appeal to voters of all walks of life," RNC spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson told Politico when asked about the situation. "Right now, we're focused on John McCain's message."

The Libertarian Party reportedly has qualified for ballot lines in 31 states this year and said it expects to be on the ballot in at least 48 states. The only states where the party anticipates trouble are Oklahoma and West Virginia, Politico said.