Guide Note
Bob Barr is a former member of the House of Representatives from Georgia.
On May 12, 2008, Barr officially announced he will run for president as a Libertarian in the 2008 presidential election. On May 25 the Libertarian Party chose Barr as its presidential candidate. He defeated research scientist Mary Ruwart by a final vote of 324-276.
The move could complicate John McCain's presidential bid as Barr could snatch away some of McCain's votes from Republican voters.
Fast Facts
- Full name: Robert L. Barr, Jr.
- Born November 5, 1948 in Iowa City, Iowa
- Attorney
- 1995 to 2003: Represented Georgia's 7th congressional district
- Interviewed in the film Borat
- 1986 until 1990: Served as US Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia
- 2001 to 2007: Board of Directors of the NRA
- One of the leaders of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton
- 2008: A draft Bob Barr petition started
- Candidacy announcement expected no later than April 5
- Ron Paul is expected to endorse Barr if he runs
Presidential Bid
After six rounds of balloting the Libertarian Party chose Barr to be its candidate for president on Sunday, May 25, 2008.
Barr defeated research scientist Mary Ruwart in the final ballot by a vote of 324-276.
Congress
Running as a Republican, Barr defeated six-term Representative Buddy Darden in 1994, and would go on to be re-elected three times. While in the House, he served as a senior member of the Judiciary Committee. Though Barr had a strongly conservative voting record, he was also harshly critical of Bush Administration policies after the 9/11 attacks, particularly regarding the Patriot Act. He eventually lost his seat in the 2002 elections, which may have been a result of Georgia Democrats reorganizing the state's districts in their favor.
Life After Congress
Since leaving Congress, Barr has worked as a consultant, pundit and talk radio host. In 2004, he declined to endorse George W. Bush and instead joined the Libertarian Party, whom he intends to represent in the 2008 Presidential race.
