What the Libertarian Party and Barr Should Do

BThe entry of Bob Barr, former congressman from Georgia, as a candidate for the Libertarian Party's Presidential nomination may have generated record coverage for that party. The exposure provides the Libertarians with a chance to sell the "product."

Here is what I think they should do. Run only in Georgia. That's it. Focus all effort on Georgia where the results of the (probable) McCain/Obama contest is not in doubt. Voters there will feel free to vote Libertarian. The advantages of such a focus are: Barr is best known in Georgia; this, novel, one-state strategy will accrue further attention to his candidacy; the limited resources available will go much farther spent in one state only.

The disadvantages are slight. The party would pass up the opportunity to battle Nader and the Greens for the "Top of the Irrelevant" crown. Instead, the Libertarians should try to enter the national political consciousness by getting some 5% or even 10% of the voters in Georgia. That would get them, and their ideas, talked about.