Will the Libertarians Spoil McCain's Chances?

Playing the Spoiler Role?
The Libertarians say they're not out to ruin McCain's chances. But they could cost him.
By Sarah Elkins | Newsweek Web Exclusive

At Tuesday night's Libertarian debate, the party's most celebrated presidential candidate wasn't even there. In fact, he isn't even a Libertarian. And yet his name was invoked almost a dozen times in the course of the hourlong debate leading up to this weekend's Libertarian convention.

Last week Ron Paul—a Republican, at least in name—crossed the 1 million mark for votes. At the Washington offices of the Libertarian monthly magazine Reason, Matt Welch, the magazine's editor-in-chief, introduced the debate with a nod to the Texas congressman: "We're here to talk about Libertarian politics in 2008 and what is shaping up to be something of a Libertarian moment in the wake of Ron Paul's ongoing revolution," Welch said.

With only one day left before the Libertarian convention—which will run from Thursday through Monday in Denver, Colo.—the 14 Libertarian candidates are all trying to cash in on Paul's appeal. No surprise, considering that Paul has far exceeded the vote counts of past Libertarian presidential contenders. Paul has also managed to hold on to more than $5 million in campaign funds, a remarkable sum, given that Sen. John McCain clinched the Republican nomination in March and that Paul's candidacy, as he told NEWSWEEK in March, is more about sending a message than winning the White House.

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