Grab Bob Barr's Coattails

Link: Townhall.com::Bob Barr Enters the Race::By William Rusher.

So it seems very likely that, come November, conservatives will find on their ballots not only the names of McCain and assorted liberals but that of a staunch fellow conservative resolutely opposed to big federal spending and military involvement in the Middle East. Most will realize, of course, that Barr has no chance whatsoever of actually becoming president. His role, therefore, is inevitably that of a spoiler -- a person whose only serious function might be to put Obama in the White House. That will be more than enough to turn most conservative voters against him. But a few -- perhaps a dangerously sizeable few -- will vote for Barr.

Barr, of course, knows all this, and he admits that his real hope, strategically, is "to strengthen the ability of the Libertarian Party to be a permanent, viable force in American politics."

Which is all very well, but it's a high price to pay for four or eight years of Obama as president of the United States.

I don't know if the price is that high.  With Obama on the left and Barr on the right, the real issue for conservatives is which one is McCain closer to.   Many may see the race as Barr vs. McBama.  Could helping McCain win be too high a price to keep Obama out?

Of course Barr still won't win, but Libertarians could use his relatively high profile candidacy to seek net gains in other ways.  Republicans have recently lost several Congressional seats in interim elections that were thought safe.  Voters obviously wanted "change" even if the only other choice was a Democrat.  What if there had been another option in those races? 

The party should take advantage of a high profile Libertarian presence on the presidential ballot, and go all out to win local, state, and even congressional races.  Many conservatives not ready to make the leap to a Democratic candidate in their districts might find a Libertarian more palatable than either.  If at all successful, winning a handful of seats could give it real power as a swing vote on many issues.

A spot on the presidential ballot is fine, but the essence of libertarianism is bottom up, not top down.