Barr Shows Up at Netroots Nation

Updated 3:21 p.m.
By Garance Franke-Ruta
AUSTIN -- A second surprise guest at Netroots Nation 2008 is generating hallway buzz: Bob Barr. Yep -- that Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee, civil liberties advocate and former Georgia Republican representative.

Barr is in town as the featured draw at tonight's closing reception at the Right Online Summit of right-wing bloggers and online activists sponsored by the Americans for Prosperity Foundation, also ongoing today in Austin.

A third-party political candidate, Barr's visit to the hallways of Netroots Nation to mingle with progressive bloggers -- he bought a ticket, just like any other attendee, says a convention source -- shows him trying to try to reach out to folks on both sides of the aisle.