2008 Libertarian National Convention

Infobox National Political Convention
year = 2008
party = Libertarian

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caption = Official Logo of the 2008 Libertarian National Convention
date = May 22 - May 26
venue = Sheraton Hotel
city = Denver, Colorado
presidential_nominee = Bob Barr
presidential_nominee_state = Georgia
vice_presidential_nominee = Wayne Allyn Root
vice_presidential_nominee_state = NevadaThe 2008 Libertarian National Convention was held from May 22 to May 26, 2008 at the Sheraton Hotel (formerly the Adam's Mark Hotel) [ [http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2008_1st/Feb08_WhitehallSheraton.html Starwood to Re-brand and Renovate Former Adams Mark Hotels as Sheraton Dallas Hotel and Sheraton Denver Hotel / February 2008 ] ] in Denver, Colorado. The delegates at the convention, which was sponsored by the United States Libertarian Party, nominated Bob Barr for the presidency and Wayne Allyn Root for the vice-presidency in the 2008 presidential election through the convention process, televised nationally by [http://inside.c-spanarchives.org:8080/cspan/cspan.csp?command=dprogram&record=202093789 C-SPAN] .

Libertarians hold a National Convention every two years to vote on party bylaws, platform and resolutions and elect national party officers and a judicial committee. Every four years it nominates presidential and vice-presidential candidates. [ [http://www.lp.org/organization/bylaws.shtml Libertarian Party Bylaws] ] ]

Platform

In 2006 the self-styled Libertarian Party "reformers" at the convention in Portland, Oregon took out 46 platform planks detailing party positions, leaving just fifteen. In 2008 more "radical" libertarians wanted to restore that platform. They did not succeed, but they narrowly prevented the reformers from watering down the non-aggression principle in the party's “Statement of Principles”. [David Weigel, [http://www.reason.com/news/show/126633.html Who Isn't Trying to Take Over the Libertarian Party? Scenes from the LP's most newsworthy convention in years] , Reason Magazine, May 23, 2008; Matt Simon, [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-simon/liberatarians-nominate-ex_b_103552.html Libertarians Nominate Ex-Republican Barr] , Huffington Post, May 26, 2008.] The revised platform did replace the plank on secession [ [http://www.lpedia.org/index.php?title=2004_Libertarian_Party_Platform&redirect=no 2004 Libertarian Party Platform] ] , deleted in 2006, with a definition of self-determination drawn from the Declaration of Independence: “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of individual liberty, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to agree to such new governance as to them shall seem most likely to protect their liberty.” [ [http://www.lp.org/issues/platform_all.shtml National Platform of the Libertarian Party] , Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado.]

Voting for Presidential nomination

First ballot

After the first round, six of the eight candidates running moved onto the second round of voting. Mike Jingozian and Christine Smith were both eliminated due to their small percentage of votes. Jingozian endorsed Fmr. Sen. Mike Gravel, and Smith presented a speech attacking Bob Barr after the results were announced.

econd ballot

After the second round, five of the six candidates running moved onto the third ballot. Steve Kubby, after receiving only 5% of the total vote, dropped out of the race and endorsed Dr. Mary Ruwart.

Third ballot

After the third round of voting, four of the five remaining candidates moved on to the fourth ballot. Dr. George Phillies was eliminated after receiving approximately 5% of the vote.

Fourth ballot

After the fourth vote, three of the four candidates went onto the fifth round of voting. Fmr. Sen. Mike Gravel was eliminated after not getting a sufficient number of votes, and subsequently announced that his political career was over.

Fifth ballot

After the fifth ballot, the final two of three candidates continued on to the sixth ballot. Wayne Allyn Root was therefore eliminated, and after the vote, he made a speech endorsing Barr and stating that he would like to be Barr's candidate for Vice-President. Barr and Root then stated that they would run together.

ixth ballot

With only Barr and Ruwart remaining on the ballot, Barr received 324 votes to Ruwart's 276 and 26 NOTA. Barr thus won the nomination with 51.8% of the final vote. [cite web |url=http://www.lp.org/media/printer_588.shtml |title=Press Releases: Presidential and VP Vote Totals - Updated Live! |publisher=LP.org |date=2008-05-25 |accessdate=2008-05-25]

Ruwart made a concession speech following the announcement of the results with her campaign staff on the stage.

Voting for Vice Presidential nomination

A separate vote was held for the Vice Presidential nomination. Presidential nominee Barr endorsed Root, while Presidential runner-up Ruwart endorsed Kubby.

First ballot

After the first ballot, three of the six active candidates running moved on to the second ballot.

econd ballot

After the second ballot, Wayne Allyn Root was nominated as the vice presidential candidate, prevailing by a difference of 30 votes over Steve Kubby, and 279 votes over Daniel Williams.

References

ee also

*United States Libertarian presidential candidates, 2008

External links

* [http://www.lp.org/ Libertarian Party (official)]
* [http://www.lpconvention.org/ Official Convention Website]
* [http://www.lp.org/media/article_449.shtml Press Release]
* [http://www.denverlpcon.com/ Official Convention Guide]
* [http://www.tnr.com/story_print.html?id=5e5abfbb-46eb-464b-9095-4df1d1f8159e An account of the convention from "The New Republic"]