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The 2008 Libertarian National Convention was
held from May 22 to May 26, 2008 at the Sheraton Hotel (formerly
the Adam's Mark Hotel)[1] 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 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.[2]
Platform
Sheraton Hotel, where convention was held
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”.[3] The
revised platform did replace the plank on secession[4],
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.”[5]
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.
Second
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.
2008 Libertarian Party National Convention total
vote count: Round 4
| Candidate |
Total votes cast |
Percent of votes cast |
| Bob
Barr |
202 |
32.1% |
| Mary
Ruwart |
202 |
32.1% |
| Wayne
Allyn Root |
149 |
23.7% |
| Mike Gravel |
76 |
12.1% |
|
| Color key: |
|
1st place (tied) |
2nd place |
3rd place |
|
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.
2008 Libertarian Party National Convention total
vote count: Round 5
| Candidate |
Total votes cast |
Percent of votes cast |
| Mary
Ruwart |
229 |
37.1% |
| Bob Barr |
223 |
36.1% |
| Wayne
Allyn Root |
165 |
26.7% |
|
| Color key: |
|
1st place |
2nd place |
3rd place |
|
Sixth
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.[6]
Ruwart made a concession speech following the announcement of
the results with her campaign staff on the stage.
2008 Libertarian Party National Convention total
vote count: Round 6
| Candidate |
Total votes cast |
Percent of votes cast |
| Bob
Barr |
324 |
51.8% |
| Mary Ruwart |
276 |
44.1% |
| NOTA |
26 |
4.2% |
|
| Color key: |
|
1st place |
2nd place |
|
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.
Second
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.
2008 Libertarian Party National Convention total
vote count: Round 2
| Candidate |
Total votes cast |
Percent of votes cast |
| Wayne Allyn Root |
289 |
51.0% |
| Steve Kubby |
259 |
45.7% |
| Daniel Williams |
10 |
1.8% |
| NOTA |
6 |
1.1% |
| Richard ??? (write-in) |
1 |
0.2% |
| Mike Ferguson (write-in) |
1 |
0.2% |
| Mary Ruwart
(write-in) |
1 |
0.2% |
|
| Color key: |
|
1st place |
2nd place |
3rd place (tied) |
|
See also
References
- ^
Starwood to Re-brand and
Renovate Former Adams Mark Hotels as Sheraton Dallas Hotel and
Sheraton Denver Hotel / February 2008
- ^
Libertarian Party
Bylaws
- ^
David Weigel, 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, Libertarians Nominate
Ex-Republican Barr, Huffington Post,
May 26, 2008.
- ^
2004 Libertarian Party
Platform
- ^
National Platform of the
Libertarian Party, Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver,
Colorado.
- ^
"Press Releases: Presidential
and VP Vote Totals - Updated Live!". LP.org.
2008-05-25. http://www.lp.org/media/printer_588.shtml. Retrieved
2008-05-25.
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