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November 08, 2006

The libertarian spoiler, part 2

ITA neighbor and friend Jason Kuznicki follows up my analysis below with even more evidence that the GOP's drift from limited government principles helped fuel their losses this November.

The spoiler effect may be even more significant when we consider the number of small-l libertarians who voted outright for Democrats. Influential libertarian blogger Radley Balko repeatedly wrote in favor of Webb in the Virginia Senate race, for instance, and it's no secret that many libertarians are thrilled at the prospect of divided government. As a further bit of evidence, consider the thrilling success of eminent domain referenda last night; not since California's famous tax rebellion have the voters expressed such a clearly libertarian sentiment.

Rush Limbaugh also noted on his website today that by an 11% margin, voters who voted yesterday believe that Republicans are "the big government party now."

Although there were probably a sizable number of conservatives who voted libertarian out of protest, the "libertarian spoiler" likely manifested itself in a much more subtle way. Republican activists who would otherwise be energized for the party and volunteer in any number of ways - knocking on doors, making phone calls, putting out yard signs - were much more likely to simply vote, and nothing more. The war in Iraq was undoubtedly this November's driving force, but big government policies helped deflate the GOP from within.

Posted by Joshua Claybourn at November 8, 2006 09:36 PM

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Posted by: Samuel at November 14, 2006 02:41 PM | permalink

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