Meet Bob Barr

It may seem a little late in the game for new players to be entering the race, but we must remember that the Democratic and Republican Parties aren't the only ones choosing a nominee for November. Last weekend, former GOP Congressman Bob Barr announced the launch of a Presidential Exploratory Committee to kick off his pursuit of the Libertarian Party's nomination.

Barr's political reputation is that of a staunch advocate for civil liberties, limited government, low taxes, and secure borders; he likely hopes to provide an alternative for conservative Republicans who might feel that McCain falls short of their expectations. Barr acknowledged that some might view him as a would-be "spoiler," but said that the stakes are too high to let political expediency prevent his run. Barr stated: "America today faces a grave moral and leadership crisis, and those of us who care about our country's future can no longer sit on the sidelines and remain neutral."

A Representative of Georgia's 7th District from 1995 to 2003, Barr has since joined the Libertarian Party because, according to bobbarr2008.com, he felt it was important to align himself with "a party that is 100 percent committed to protecting liberty." In 1986, Barr was appointed by President Reagan to serve as U.S. Attorney for Northern Georgia. He was also a CIA official for 8 years during the '70s. He is a current Board Member of the National Rifle Association. As an attorney and consultant, Barr has focused his efforts on advancing the principles of smaller government, lower taxes, and abundant individual freedom.

Clearly, Barr's conservative cred is solid, but it remains to be seen how viable his candidacy will be in the current climate. Might Ron Paul supporters rally behind Barr, since the candidates share many positions? Will many McCain voters embrace him as a candidate that better fits their ideals, or would the prospect of a Democratic victory inspire enough distaste to keep those voters with the guy who has a real shot? Ralph Nader will grapple with a similar conundrum on the other side. With polls indicating that the general election will be a close contest, it's worth keeping an eye on these third party candidates to anticipate what effect, if any, they might have on the ultimate outcome.