Barr bid may cost McCain

Washington - Former Republican Representative Bob Barr said on Monday that he will run for president as a Libertarian, a development that could pull some votes from Republican candidate John McCain.

Barr said neither McCain nor Barack Obama, the Democratic frontrunner, would rein in a government that he said has grown too powerful after the September 11 attacks.

"A vote for the status quo ... is really and truly a wasted vote, because it is not going to do anything," Barr said.

As a Georgia congressman between 1995 and 2003, Barr was a stalwart conservative and one of the leaders backing the impeachment of Democratic President Bill Clinton.

But he has broken with the Bush administration in recent years over its domestic surveillance programme and what he called its abuse of due process rights.

Barr's run on the Libertarian ticket could complicate things for McCain, who has struggled to unite some conservatives behind his candidacy.

Roughly one-quarter of those voting in last week's Republican nominating contests in Indiana and North Carolina cast their ballots for candidates other than McCain. And libertarian-leaning Republican candidate Ron Paul has not formally withdrawn from the race.

Barr said several members of his former party have asked him not to run.

But he said his supporters "would not likely fall into the category of people who would be enthused about voting for John McCain, if such exist".

Barr's exploratory committee said in April that a poll it commissioned found he would get the support of 7% of likely voters.

A November election between Obama and McCain is unlikely to be close enough to be affected by any libertarian candidate, said Southern Methodist University professor Cal Jillson.

"I think we are in an election cycle here in 2008 that is leaning significantly toward the Democrats," Jillson said. "But if Obama stumbles and McCain gets close there is a possibility" that a third-party candidate could be a factor.

The Libertarian Party will pick its presidential candidate at its convention in Denver between May 22 and May 26. According to its website, it has gained ballot access in 28 states so far.

- Reuters