Barr May Bring Libertarians Into Big Leagues

Though still far on the periphery of the American political scene, the Libertarian Party stands to reach unprecedented visibility with its nomination of former Republican congressman Bob Barr, writes David Weigel in Reason. By picking its "most well-known and politically astute" candidate—and one who doesn’t compromise its radical mission—the party might actually force people to pay attention come November, he argues.

Ron Paul’s campaign changed a recent history of infighting, Weigel notes, proving that Libertarian values retain national appeal—a trend the party hopes to continue through Barr. "It wouldn’t take much,” he writes, “for Barr’s popularity to force John McCain to campaign in states he thought he had wrapped up, or even to swing one of those states into the Democratic column.” (More Libertarian Party stories.)