Barr Set for Libertarians

Bob Barr won the Libertarian nomination yesterday, beating scientist Mary Ruwart 324-276 after six rounds of voting. The former GOP congressman from Georgia then swiftly named fifth-round dropout Wayne Allyn Root as his vice-presidential choice. Former Democratic candidate Mike Gravel, meanwhile, dropped out in the fourth round.

Barr expects to make the ballot in 48 states, and poll high enough to qualify for national debates. “I’m in this to win,” he says. “I certainly have no intention of being a spoiler.” Gravel, meanwhile, announced his retirement. “I just ended my political career,” he said. “It's no big deal. I'm a writer, I'm a lecturer, I'm going to push the issues of freedom and liberty. I'm going to push those issues until the day I die.” (More Bob Barr stories.)