Montana

Though New Hampshire is widely regarded as the most independent and libertarian state in the nation, that myth has more to do with its proximity to the Eastern media centers than it does with reality. Out in Big Sky country the most interesting state in the union politically, gets more interesting everyday. Here is the latest development.

Ron Paul draws record crowd to Montana GOP convention


In the last few years Montana has elected the first statewide Constitution Party official Rick Jore and seen Ron Paul finish with over 20 percent of the vote in both the GOP caucus and primary. In 2006 a blue skinned Libertarian Stan Jones got 10,000 votes in a close Senate race throwing the election to the Democrats and the Montana Sec. of State Brad Johnson recently suggested that secession was on the table if the Supreme Court rules against individual gun rights. Just a few weeks ago a fiercely anti-war socialist won the Republican primary for U.S. Senate.

For months now I have been saying that a third party candidate would be smarter to focus on a state like Montana, than they would be to tour the country wasting money in pursuit of some likely unattainable national vote percentage. A rural state, with a small population, Montana is almost instinctively opposed to bigness, whether it takes the form of business or government (or both). Opposition to the federal government and respect for private property are near unanimous viewpoints in the state, and its citizens appear to be willing to vote on those principles, whereas other folks just talk.

If Bob Barr is smart he will take his funds to the Mountain West, campaign on an America First platform, and try and peel off some electoral votes. It is not as impossible as it seems. In a three or four way race the liberty minded can stage a coup if they are well organized. The state that ignores speed limits seems like the best place to start.