Barr's presidential bid makes solid GOP states competitive

The Ralph Nader of the GOP.

Bob Barr has an appeal to two kinds of Republican voters: those for whom John McCain is too fond of big government (i.e., liberal), and those for whom the Bush-McCain war policies are unacceptable. And McCain is not doing anything to assist himself with either group. He distinguishes himself from Mr. Bush only by showing he is more liberal, as in his support for national election laws, efforts to combat "global warming", and the contempt he has shown for the Christian Right. Most conspicuously, he not only supports Mr. Bush's wars and contempt for civil liberties, but gives indications of a willingness to exceed him. While holding himself out as a fiscal conservative, McCain has not presented a plan that would prove it, and given his commitment to fight wars and global warming, is not likely to do so. If Mr. Barr is able to earn the kind of credibility that Ross Perot earned in 1992, that he was considered a serious contender to outpoll one or both of his opponents, he could easily not only keep John McCain out of the White House, but actually draw more votes altogether.