What would be the most successful LP ticket for ‘08? Barr-Root, Barr-Gravel, Ruwart-Kubby, or some other combination? Of course, the best match-up would be for Barr to not name a VP until after the GOP convention, then name Paul, but I don’t see it happening.

In my mind, the most appropriate course for the LP to take is to go with whatever wing of the party is currently in power, i.e. go with a right-libertarian ticket in order to counter the biggest current threat to liberty, the GOP, and go with a left-libertarian ticket if/when the Dems become a bigger threat to liberty.

Based on what Wiegel and others are reporting, Barr will win the nomination in if he goes into alliance with either Root OR Gravel. By choosing Root, Barr maximizes the share of disgruntled GOP voters he’ll reel in (Mancow endorsed Root today, BTW). But by picking Gravel, the LP could maximize their vote total, perhaps pulling in a majority of the Nader voters.

For the long run success of the party, a Barr-Gravel ticket would be best because it could form the beginnings of an oft-hoped for green-libertarian alliance that could be a serious player in the future. But for now, booting the Neocons out of power is the most pressing concern in my mind.