Founded in 1991, the Republican Liberty Caucus works to advance the principles of limited government, free markets and individual liberty within the Republican Party.

The Libertarian Party is convening in Denver this weekend and may provide one of the most pleasant ironies of this presidential election season: the LP candidate may be less libertarian than the best Republican running. I don’t say this to criticize the LP, but to highlight what progress libertarians have made in the GOP this season.

It’s hard to tell who the LP frontrunner really is, but the media is coronating — in advance, per custom — former Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA). While in Congress, Rep. Barr was seen as a social conservative with a libertarian streak.

The RLC’s Liberty Index, which since 1991 has been rating Congress members using the two-dimensional Nolan Chart methodology, confirms this. His career score is 76.4%, made up of a personal liberty score of 68% and a economic liberty score of 85%. He’s wasn’t a Ron Paul or Jeff Flake, but 76% still lands one (barely) in the libertarian quadrant of the two-dimensional political chart. To his credit, Barr’s libertarian streak has grown since leaving Congress.

For more info on Barr’s record, see the Liberty Index.