The Associated Press’s Ben Evans has a story, “Bailout angst provides a push for Libertarian Barr,” on Libertarian Party oppostion to the recent bailout.
The story suggests that Barr might gain from the federal bailout, but then notes that he hasn’t yet gained, and likley won’t.
The story suggests the possibility for Barr’s gain:
Private markets fail, politicians from both parties jump to their rescue, and taxpayers get stuck with the bill. Libertarian candidate Bob Barr couldn’t have scripted a better story line to argue that Republicans and Democrats are interchangeable — with a helpless addiction to spending.
Can Barr capitalize on it during the closing weeks of the presidential campaign? Republican strategists fear any gains he makes could come at the expense of their ticket because Barr’s economic views are closer to those of GOP nominee John McCain than to Democrat Barack Obama.
Here’s the more prosaic truth:
Polls so far aren’t registering a shift to the Libertarian candidate in spite of widespread outrage over the $700 billion rescue package. The former GOP congressman from Georgia is languishing with about the same 1 percent share of support he’s had for months….
A national Associated Press-GfK poll taken Sept. 27-30 found Barr with just 1 percent support. In recent polls in swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, he has less than that….
In Barr’s case, the bailout could marginally boost his campaign, said Alan Abramowitz, a political scientist who studies presidential politics at Emory University. But he said Barr needs to get his message out more effectively to make any gains.
“It’s the kind of issue that should work for him. I’m sure that some die-hard conservatives are very unhappy with McCain over his support for the bailout,” Abramowitz said. “But as far as it having much impact, I don’t think Barr is visible enough at this point.”