A Georgia-Centered Theory of the General Election

I came across some hand-wringing somewhere speculating that Bob Barr may hurt Obama in the general. I think that Barr may help Obama carry Georgia, especially if Sam Nunn is on the ticket. I think that if Obama wins every state Kerry won (which he should do with or without Barr running), plus Georgia, he wins. Some voters who may be inclined to vote for Barr might also be potential Obama voters, but more, I think, would be disgruntled Republicans – 1992 Perot voters. I guess it depends on how popular Barr still is in Georgia and how seriously he campaigns. Swap Nunn for Jim Webb (an equally attractive potential veep) and Georgia for Virginia (maybe New Mexico has to be thrown in), and things might also work out for Obama, but since Barr is from Georgia, that’s where he would matter. While we’re on this topic, I might as well say that I find Karl Rove’s maps silly.