News88 Blog Of The Day 02/17/2005: Libertarian Party Presidential Prospects Rundown 2008 Showdown

Thanks to Mike Smith2008 Libertarian Party Potential Presidential CandidatesThe Libertarian Party has fielded a presidential candidate in the past nine elections. Their candidate typically gets on most or all state ballots. The high water mark came in 1980, when Ed Clark received nearly a million votes. In 2004, Michael Badnarik received around 400,000 votes, placing fourth.The 2008 election could be a pivotal year for the party. The presidential candidate could be a factor, or could end up having the weakest showing in recent history. Naturally, it all depends on who else runs. A Hillary Clinton candidacy could sabotage all third party efforts, as voters would be polarized like never before. An independent run by a major figure such as a McCain or Ventura could also have a minimizing effect on the LP candidate.The following is a list of the top 20 potential candidates:20 – Michael CloudCloud is the best motivational speaker in the LP. He last ran against Ted Kennedy, where he garnered 19%. Cloud would be a formidable opponent in a debate – if only he could get in.19 – Bill MastersAmerica’s only current Libertarian sheriff (Colorado). Masters would bring a toughness to the slate, but has no large-scale campaigning experience.His main focus would be on the drug war.18 – John StosselFormerly the darling of the liberal media, Stossel is now one of the most hated since he turned his attention to the waste and fraud of big government. Stossel would bring name recognition and a good camera presence.17 – Don GormanGorman is one of the few to have won a statewide elective office as a Libertarian (NH). He was the runner-up to Harry Browne in 2000, but has been mostly inactive since. A man’s man, Gorman is the Ernest Hemingway of the LP.16 – L. Neil SmithSmith is a well-known author. He was the official presidential candidate in 2000 in Arizona when a faction of the LP split off there. 15 – Richard MackA former Sheriff from Arizona, Mack won national recognition by successfully challenging the constitutionality of the Brady Bill. He was also recognized by the NRA in 1995 as the Law Enforcement Officer of the Year.In 2004, he was slated to run for governor of Utah, but instead became a contestant on Showtime’s “American Candidate”. He lost.14 – Karen KwiatkowskiA retired Lt. Colonel in the Air Force, Kwiatkowski would bring foreign policy credentials to the ticket. An outspoken critic of the conflict in Iraq, Kwiatkowski writes regular articles for LewRockwell.com13 – Gary JohnsonFormer governor of New Mexico, Johnson made headlines when he suggested that certain drugs should be decriminalized. Though he rebuffed attempts to run for the LP nomination in 2004, Johnson did speak at official Libertarian events. An example of a potential candidate that would only run under the perfect circumstances.12 – Tamara MillayRan unsuccessfully for the VP nod in 2004, and has run for US Senate in Missouri. The VP winner, Richard Campagna, was a huge disappointment, leaving many wishing they had chosen Millay.11 – Gary NolanWas considered the front-runner for the 2004 nomination, but finished third in a very close vote. His association with previous nominee Harry Browne led many to want to go in another direction. Nolan is a former Republican who hosts a nationwide radio show. Obviously, good speaking voice and respectable debater.10 – Bob BarrA former lightning rod Republican congressman, Barr surprised some by endorsing Badnarik for president. Barr is among a number of paleoconservatives who are disappointed with the direction of the Republican Party. His libertarian credentials come in the form of his stand on civil liberties issues. Ironically, Barr was targeted for defeat by the LP in his primary against John Linder. The LP perceived Barr as a staunch drug war defender, an issue that would have to be dealt with to secure the LP nomination. Barr would only run if he thought he could win or be a significant factor.9 – Mary RuwartWith a Ph.D on her resume, Dr. Ruwart lobbied President Bush to become the next commissioner of the FDA. This would have been a coup considering she doesn’t believe the FDA should exist. Ruwart is well known in libertarian circles, and would be a tough opponent for the nomination. 8 – Jacob HornbergerA firebrand libertarian speaker with an on again/off again relationship with the LP. He was perceived as “not a team player” when he sharply criticized the 2000 Browne campaign of financial mismanagement. Still, he has a fair amount of support, and is probably the most uncompromising libertarian out there.7 – Jim GrayCalifornia State Supreme Court Judge would bring his own credentials to the ticket. Gray is a good communicator and has a fatherly presence. An underachieving performance in the 2004 California Senate campaign could derail a presidential bid.6 – Ron PaulCurrently a Republican member of Congress (TX), Paul is known as “Dr. No” due to his repeated “no” votes for anything he deems unconstitutional, and because he is also a doctor. Paul was the 1988 LP candidate for president, coming in third, a first for any LP candidate. A Paul candidacy could spell doom for the Republicans, as Paul is pro-life and could probably also snag the Constitution Party nomination. Paul would probably not give up his congressional seat unless he felt he could win the presidency. Should he throw his hat into the ring, he would be a shoo-in to win the LP nomination.5 - Carla HowellThe leading prospective female candidate, Howell has been very active in Massachusetts politics. She was included in the 2002 gubernatorial debates, and received 12% of the vote (finishing just behind the Republican candidate, who got 13%) in her 2000 Senate race. A respectable speaker and stage presence, Howell could be a female alternative to Hillary.4 – Aaron RussoFamed Hollywood producer (The Rose, Trading Places) was nearly the 2004 nominee. Only a spat with Gary Nolan prevented him from winning (Nolan threw his support behind Badnarik once he was eliminated). Russo’s emotional style is both a help and a hindrance. Clearly, the Howard Dean of the LP.3 – Jesse VenturaFar and away the most interesting scenario, this former wrestler-turned-Minnesota governor describes himself as “socially liberal and economically conservative”. He could shorten that to “libertarian”, but has always carefully avoided doing so. Ventura doesn’t really want the LP nomination, and the LP doesn’t really want Ventura, but it may be a case of each one needing the other. Ventura could ask Nader just how tough it is to get on 50 ballots as an independent, and the LP offers that virtually free of charge. On the other hand, many LPers are getting tired of nominating unknown party purists, and think a celebrity candidate would be the springboard to national prominence. A Ventura candidacy would be purely a marriage of convenience.2 – Ed ThompsonBrother of Tommy Thompson, Ed ran a spirited campaign for governor of Wisconsin. His 11% did not go unnoticed, especially by the Republicans, who secretly blamed him for their loss. Ed would like to run again, but would never run against his brother, who may want his old job back. Thompson is a bit rough around the edges, but brotherly gravitas and his “Rocky Balboa” style would play well in a lot of places.1 – Michael Badnarik2004 nominee has already announced plans to run again. His surprise win at the LP convention was validated by his grasp of the issues and his ever-improving interview skills. Badnarik is also a team player, meaning that if a better known candidate decided to run, he would probably step aside. Not out of the question he would accept a VP slot under that scenario.

From Evan Monson and Kyle Rice's NewPolitics1 Blogsite at http://newpolitics1.blogspot.com.

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