Advertisement

Barr wins Libertarian nomination

Former Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's use of national security letters, in Washington on April 11, 2007. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch)
Former Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) testifies before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's use of national security letters, in Washington on April 11, 2007. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch) | License Photo

DENVER, May 25 (UPI) -- Delegates to the Libertarian Party convention in Denver Sunday chose Bob Barr, a former Republican member of Congress, as their 2008 presidential nominee.

Approximately 650 delegates picked Barr on the sixth ballot over Mary Ruwart. Former Sen. Mike Gravel, D-Ala., didn't make the final cut of three candidates after the fourth ballot, WKKT-TV in Colorado Springs, Colo., reported. Wayne Root was third finalist from among the 14 candidates who started out in the balloting.

Advertisement

Barr called the Libertarians "the party of substance," The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.

"There has been more discussion of substantive, constitutional issues in the three days I've been here with you than in 30 years of working with that other party," he said. "We've never been afraid of leading. The Libertarian Party knows no fear. Fear is not a part of our platform. It's not part of our hard wiring."

There are about 250,000 registered Libertarians in the United States. Third-party candidates have affected the outcome in two of the past four presidential elections.

"We will send shock waves, not just across this country, not a seismic shift on Capitol Hill, but around the world," Barr said, "because again, men, women, children and government leaders will once again look to America, not with fear in their eyes, but love in their heart."

Advertisement

Libertarian Party spokesman Andrew Davis called Barr "one of the strongest candidates in the party's 37-year history,"

"Republicans and Democrats have good reason to fear a candidate like Barr, who refuses to accept the 'business-as-usual' attitude of the current political establishment," Davis said.

Latest Headlines