Rasmussen released a poll yesterday that factored in third-party challengers in the general election. Of most interest to me was the fact that, in a two way race McCain and Obama are in a virtual dead heat: McCain 45%, Obama 44%.
In a four way race, Obama has a significant lead: Obama earns 42% of the vote, McCain 38%, Bob Barr 6% and Ralph Nader 4%.
Barr picked up 7% of the Republican vote, 5% of the Democratic vote, and 5% of the unaffiliated vote. participants to choose between Barack Obama, John McCain and some other candidate.
Nader got 1% of the Republican vote, 3% of the Democratic vote, and 8% support from those not affiliated with either major party.
This brings me to the importance of our community encouraging a third party libertarian bid this fall. I don't believe that Barr will win 6% of the vote nationwide, just like Nader's popularity will shrink as the primary nears. But the 6% is possibility under perfect circumstances -- I can't remember a time during my lifetime when there was such discontent in amongst Republicans on their direction, the highly divisive war, and their nominee.
I'm begrudgingly beginning to accept that, with the protracted Democratic primary, it is going to take an extra bump for we Democrats to claim the white house this November. That's why I humbly ask you to click here and contribute in what is perhaps the most effective way that we can. Bob Barr, ug, for President.
To bring this home I leave you with a little gift. Most of us have been somewhat surprised by how Obama has been polling in Alaska: McCain 50%, Obama 41%.
Furthermore:
Four years ago, George W. Bush won 61% of the vote in Alaska. Today, just 39% of the state’s voters say that President Bush is doing a good or excellent job. Forty-four percent (44%) give his job performance a Poor rating.
Which brings me to the attractiveness of a libertarian candidate to Alaska. The state has always favored principals such as rugged individualism and self-sufficiency, perhaps more than the rest of the nation. Bottom line, it is by no means inconceivable that Barr could pull 6% of the votes, putting the state in play for Obama. One of the ways Alaska's libertarian streak has manifested itself is in a right to privacy that allows an individual to keep 24 pot plants in their house, for their own domestic use, without risk of government intervention.
See Ravin v. Alaska, No. 2135. A.L.S.C. (1975) (Rabinowitz, C.J.)
The privacy amendment to the Alaska Constitution was intended to give recognition and protection to the home. Such a reading is consonant with the character of life in Alaska. Our territory and now state has traditionally been the home of people who prize their individuality and who have chosen to settle or to continue living here in order to achieve a measure of control over their own lifestyles which is now virtually unattainable in many of our sister states.
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Thus, we conclude that citizens of the State of Alaska have a basic right to privacy in their homes under Alaska's constitution. This right to privacy would encompass the possession and ingestion of substances such as marijuana in a purely personal, non-commercial context in the home unless the state can meet its substantial burden and show that proscription of possession of marijuana in the home is supportable by achievement of a legitimate state interest.