In a move that has the potential to draw votes away from presumptive GOP nominee John McCain in November, former Republican Rep. Bob Barr announced today his intention to run as a Libertarian in the race for the White House. Barr, who according to the Associated Press has hired former independent candidate Ross Perot’s campaign manager, left the Republican party two years ago deeply disillusioned with government in Washington.

“I’ve heard from Americans from all walks of life…they want a choice,” Barr said in announcing his campaign. “They believe that America has more and better to offer than what the current political situation is serving up to us.”

While serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003, Barr, a Georgia native, developed a reputation as a vocal critic of both Presidents Clinton and Bush. Barr was a leading advocate of impeaching Clinton during the Lewinsky scandal and helped manage House Republicans’ impeachment trial before the Senate.

In order to appear on the Libertarian ballot in November, however, Barr must first win the party’s nomination at its convention beginning May 22. According to the AP, many “party officials consider him a front-runner thanks to the national profile he developed as a George congressman.”