Does anyone think Bob Barr change the election math in GA?

[BlackmanX]

As you've probably heard by now fmr. Congressman Bob Barr is now the official libertarian nominee for president in the general election. Personally I know very little about the man but given that he's from GA and running on a 3rd party ticket, I wonder if he'll be able to pull enough disillusioned repub votes away from Mccain to give Obama the state in November. Any thoughts on this?

[RebelOne]

1. We could only hope that happens, but anything is possible. n/t

[RubyDuby in GA]

2. I do believe it only helps us here in GA

The hardcore Republicans absolutely hate McCain (I read the top GOP blogs - oppo research yaknow!) and are excited about the prospect of voting for Barr. They say they know they are going to pull votes away from McCain and that is the point. They don't think he can win the general and they want to send a "message" to the national GOP.


bwahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!111!!!1eleven!!!!!! It's HUGH! :)

[gademocrat7]

3. I agree

Bob Barr will draw GOP votes away from McCain. It would be great if he could take votes away from McCain across the South.

[conscious evolution]

4. I can see it happening.

Between him and ron paul they could take a lot of votes from mcsame.

[Laelth]

5. I think Obama will win GA ...

... and I think he would still win GA, even if Barr were not on the ballot.

But that's just my opinion, and electoral prognostication is not my strong suit.

-Laelth

[bunkerbuster1]

6. He might make it a little more likely that McCain will have to waste resources campaigning here.

I would like to think that there are enough sane white folks who'll vote for Obama if Barr siphons off about 8-10 percent of that vote that would've gone to McCain... but in reality, I'll be shocked if Obama actually wins.

It'll probably be within mid-single digits, though, and that will be seen as a pretty damn big shift (although not an unanticipated one, what with so many new arrivals to the state in the past couple decades.)

[racaulk]

7. I would *love* to see Georgia go blue this year!

I do think that Bob Barr will pull a good number of Repuke voters away from McCain, but I don't know if it will be enough to change the end result. Barr will definitely decrease the margin of victory between McCain and Obama, but with the lovely electronic voting machines we have here in Georgia (:eyes:), I believe Obama would have to win by a pretty sizeable margin to keep the Repukes from stealing this thing. I don't think it's currently possible, but a lot can change between now and November...and I would be thrilled to see Obama get our electoral votes!

I may just go campaign for Barr to help make sure that happens. :evilgrin:

Remember also that Repuke primary voters voted for Huckabee here, so I don't think that Georgia Repukes are in love with McCain...at least not yet. If McCain doesn't pick Huckabee as his running mate, I think he would be wise to not take Georgia for granted.