AUSTIN — It must be the day for surprise appearances.

Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr is making a cameo at the Netroots Nation gathering, a few hours after Al Gore made an impromptu visit to the morning panel with Nancy Pelosi.

Barr said he was not invited to the conference for liberal bloggers and activists but wanted to reach out to the group because they have many things in common.

His focus on civil liberties and the Constitution is helpful here since some of the netroots are irritated that Sen. Barack Obama voted for President Bush's eavesdropping bill.

Also, the Obama campaign has been fairly welcoming of his candidacy, with campaign manager David Plouffe acknowledging recently that his presence on the ballot in Georgia and Alaska could help Obama win those states.

Barr, a former Congressman from Georgia, wandered around the convention center, greeting the netroots with one aide in tow. He said he was in the area for a separate campaign stop.

Barr will attend Right Online, the conservative answer to Netroots Nation, tonight in Austin.

— Christina Bellantoni, national political reporter,
The Washington Times

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