Barr Attends GOP Convention, Ron Paul Rally To Gain Supporters

September 3, 2008 11:22 a.m. EST

St. Paul, MN (AHN) - Hoping to gain supporters for his third-party candidacy, Libertarian candidate Bob Barr visited the Xcel Arena and the Target Center where competing conventions were held on Tuesday by the GOP and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX).

Barr, a Republican congressman from 1995 to 2003, was in St. Paul for the first full day of regular proceedings of the Republican National Convention. He was received "warmly" by convention delegates from his home state of Georgia, according to The Hill, despite concerns among Republicans that he could harm Sen. John McCain's support among conservatives.

He also joined Paul's "Rally for the Republic" in Minneapolis, which was attended by at least 10,000 people. Barr told ABC he was there to recognize voters "who believe we need to shrink the power, the size, the scope of the federal government." He added, "Ron has chosen to work within the Republican Party, I've chosen to work through the Libertarian Party through the electoral route, but we all want the same thing."

Barr began his bid for the White House on May 12 on a "true conservative" platform.

Paul, the 1988 Libertarian presidential nominee, bowed out of the Republican race on June 12 after gaining only 29 delegates during the primary season despite broad grassroots support.