Bob Barr is the former Georgia congressman considering a presidential run under the Libertarian Party (LP) banner. (I don’t yet have a preferred presidential candidate in the race. The LP is fascinating because it could always take an odd turn…)
Barr’s exploratory committee website lists the amount that he has raised as about 46,000 dollars. It’s a lot of money, surely, but not for politics. There are middle class families that purchase boats or recreational vehicles for that amount. I am not sure what to make of the slow fundraising.
(Ron Paul — not the libertarian for me — raised huge amounts of money; one of his toughest administrative challenges was probably finding a way to count it all.)
Barr’s website is also touting a poll from often-controversial pollster Zobgy that shows that he, Barr, would do better than Ralph Nader (Green Party) in the general election.
That’s Ralph Nader, famous consumer advocate who has long since worn out his welcome with as a presidential candidate. If Barr as LP candidate cannot do better than Nader…
The poll is odd, in any event. In a general election matchup with McCain and Obama, the two top contenders are close (42 and 45 percent, respectively), with Barr at 3% and Nader at 1%.
In a general election matchup between McCain and Clinton, though, the two top contenders are far apart (44 and 34 percent respectively), with Barr at 4% and Nader at 3%. Say what you want about Sen. Clinton, but she’ll do better than ten points behind McCain.