Barr still working on W.Va.

Though the state is one of the hardest for him to obtain ballot access, Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr's campaign is still collecting signatures for W.Va.

As the H-D reported on the 31:

Party spokesperson Andrew Davis said they are shooting for 22,000 signatures, although just more than 15,000 are needed to pass the initiative.

In ballot access efforts, campaigns generally try to collect a great deal more signatures than the required number, as many are thrown out when officials review them. I worked for a third party in 2000 and our goal was to get 50% more than we needed, so that we had a cushion when they got reviewed.

Third party watch

Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr was on Ed Schultz's radio program a few days ago. He said he is likely going to appear on the ballot in 49 out of 50 states.

He didn't mention the one he's having trouble with is the Mountain State.

His deputy campaign manager Shane Cory talked to West Virginia Public Radio about their efforts:

He said West Virginia is one of the toughest states for the third party candidate to get on the ballot. To qualify, Barr must get signatures from 2% of voters from the 2004 election. That’s more than 15,000 signatures.

“For us, it was a matter of resources,” he said. “We had not planned to make an effort in West Virginia. It was only in the last two weeks when we said, we can send in the manpower and we can make a valid attempt to get on the ballot in West Virginia.”

Independent candidate Ralph Nader's campaign turned in their signatures this week.

Cynthia McKinney of the Green Party will get the Mountain Party ballot line (as the Mountain Party's Jesse Johnson bombed in his own bid for the Green nomination).

Photo: Bob Barr, Libertarian Party presidential nominee, gestures as he answers a question during a news conference in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, July 15, 2008. AP

Gore hands the Democrats an issue

The Democrats have more or less dropped the ball in making the energy crisis a meaningful issue so far in this race.

McCain and the GOP have put forward their horrid "drill here, drill now, blah blah blah" plan. But, to some voters, at least they're [seen as] talking about a solution. And it's helped McCain some.

I have no doubt that Obama would be a bazillion times better on the issue than McMaverick and his army of career lobbyists, but so far, he hasn't spelled it out as well as he should.

Today former Vice President Al Gore called on the U.S. to set a real alternative energy goal for the nation.

AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) - Just as John F. Kennedy set his sights on the moon, Al Gore is challenging the nation to produce every kilowatt of electricity through wind, sun and other Earth-friendly energy sources within 10 years, an audacious goal he hopes the next president will embrace

[..]

Gore said he fully understands the magnitude of the challenge.

The Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan group that he chairs, estimates the cost of transforming the nation to so-called clean electricity sources at $1.5 trillion to $3 trillion over 30 years in public and private money. But he says it would cost about as much to build ozone-killing coal plants to satisfy current demand.

"This is an investment that will pay itself back many times over," Gore said. "It's an expensive investment but not compared to the rising cost of continuing to invest in fossil fuels."

This is the way Obama should approach this issue. Propose an Apollo Plan for energy. He hinted at it a bit when he criticized McCain's 'magic battery' pitch. Possibly, he'll elaborate as the campaign continues.

He needs to focus on this issue, contrast the differences in his plan and the GOP's and make it his own.

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And proving that he knows how to get his message out and noticed , Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr was in attendance.

Former Vice President Al Gore speaks about energy and the future, Thursday, July 17, 2008, at Constitution Hall in Washington. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Quickies

-Tom Brokaw will serve as moderator of Meet The Press through the November election.

- Ariana Huffington has a great slogan for McCain: "It's Doleja Vu all over again."

- The Washington Post says hate groups are using Obama's candidacy for recruting.

- Spoiler fears: Republicans are increasingly worried that Libertarian candidate Bob Barr will draw votes from McCain.

- While the oil companies are pushing for more drilling, the Petroleum Marketers Association of America, which represents the distribution end of the business, has launched a site Stopoilspeculators.com, offering a different solution to the gas crisis.

Libertarians go with Barr

The former Republican Congressman from Georgia gets the party's pick for the presidential race. His main rival for the nomination was former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel, who dropped out his longshot bid for the Democratic race to run as a third party candidate.

He's considered a possible spoiler who may pick up votes from conservatives who aren't thrilled with McCain.

AFP:

Barr appeared unconcerned about damaging McCain's support among conservative voters.

"If Senator McCain ... does not succeed in winning the presidency ... it will be because Senator McCain did not present, and his party did not present, a vision, an agenda, a platform and a series of programs that actually resonated positively with the American people," he said.

Former Republican congressman Bob Barr poses for a photo before speaking with the media at University Club in Washington, on Monday. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)