Root falters in bid to grab top Libertarian post

A Henderson man's bid to become the next national chairman of the Libertarian Party failed Sunday.

Wayne Allyn Root, who was the 2008 Libertarian vice presidential candidate, lost on the final ballot at the party's national convention held in St. Louis.

Mark Hinkle of California was elected chairman, garnering 54 percent of the vote, according to online reports and an online real-time video of the convention.

After the ballot, Root addressed the convention's delegates and said he was surprised by the outcome. "Ladies and gentleman, you can't get rid of me," he said. Root then announced his intentions to run for national chairman-at-large today. The political pundit added that the party needed his energy, passion and media acumen.

Root, who writes a column that appears in the Review-Journal, also has appeared numerous times on national television and radio talk shows.