As the Republicans settled on John McCain to carry their banner into the 2008 presidential election, three things happened. First Mike Gravel , the iconoclastic former senator from Alaska, left the Democratic race to fight for the Libertarian Party nod. Then, former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr, a Libertarian Party member since 2006, announced a bid for the party's presidential nomination. Finally, as the GOP's primaries wrapped up, Rep. Ron Paul notched a total of 1 million votes—just as his book The Revolution became a nationwide bestseller. Paul has rebuffed multiple requests to run as a third party candidate, so what will happen to his supporters, donors, and voters? Why did Gravel and Barr join the Libertarian Party? Why do both of them want to see their former parties defeated at the ballot boxes? Should libertarians (note the small l ) stay within the GOP ranks, as Paul has opted to do? Should they bolt for the Libertarians? The Democrats? Joining Barr and Gravel will be: - Wayne Allyn Root , a former Republican and self-described Goldwaterite who's also running hard for the Libertarian nomination. - Vern McKinley , a "Ron Paul Republican" who's challenging incumbent Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) for a House seat in northern Virginia. Be part of a live reason.tv audience and watch Barr, Gravel, Root and McKinley discuss these and related topics on Tuesday, May 20 at reason 's DC HQ. Space is limited and RSVPs are m ...
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As the Republicans settled on John McCain to carry their banner into the 2008 presidential election, three things happened. First Mike Gravel , the iconoclastic former senator from Alaska, left the Democratic race to fight for the Libertarian Party nod. Then, former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr, a Libertarian Party member since 2006, announced a bid for the party's presidential nomination. Finally, as the GOP's primaries wrapped up, Rep. Ron Paul notched a total of 1 million votes—just as his book The Revolution became a nationwide bestseller. Paul has rebuffed multiple requests to run as a third party candidate, so what will happen to his supporters, donors, and voters? Why did Gravel and Barr join the Libertarian Party? Why do both of them want to see their former parties defeated at the ballot boxes? Should libertarians (note the small l ) stay within the GOP ranks, as Paul has opted to do? Should they bolt for the Libertarians? The Democrats? Joining Barr and Gravel will be: - Wayne Allyn Root , a former Republican and self-described Goldwaterite who's also running hard for the Libertarian nomination. - Vern McKinley , a "Ron Paul Republican" who's challenging incumbent Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) for a House seat in northern Virginia. Be part of a live reason.tv audience and watch Barr, Gravel, Root and McKinley discuss these and related topics on Tuesday, May 20 at reason 's DC HQ. Space is limited and RSVPs are m ...