In The Blogs

Is Bob Barr A Spoiler?

| Thu Sep. 25, 2008 1:28 PM PDT

Chris Kromm over at Facing South thinks he might be. After looking at polling data in North Carolina, Kromm realized that that when the Libertarian candidate is included in polls, John McCain's double-digit lead in the state narrows to just six percent or even a dead heat with Obama, depending on the poll. Kromm thinks the Barr factor might explain why both candidates are now pouring money into a state not previously thought to be a close battleground. He writes:

"the fact that the Tarheel State is turning into a fierce battleground, with both sides investing precious time, energy and resources, is historic alone. And the result might be closer than any of us thought."

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Stephanie Mencimer is a staff reporter in Mother Jones' Washington bureau. For more of her stories, click here.

Comments

Submitted by Oh Please, Oh Please... (not verified) on Thu Sep. 25, 2008 4:06 PM PDT.

I'd dearly love to see Bob Barr be a spoiler.
And Nader, and McKinney...

I'd like to see them actually winning electoral votes to the point that the election is thrown in to the House of Representatives.

What better way to say: "We Demand REAL Change" than to give neither wing of the Mobius Party an electoral majority?

Won't happen though, as long as we voters keep caving to the "fear the other guy" tactic both party wings successfully resort to every election, in order to keep us from really voting for change, with a capital 'C'.

Submitted by Nell (not verified) on Fri Sep. 26, 2008 4:29 PM PDT.

It's not just the Barr factor making NC a battleground. It's also the closeness of the Senate race -- so that money and effort directed there has the possibility of a double dividend.