LAS VEGAS-Las Vegas' very own presidential candidate, Wayne Allyn Root, learned last week that his race for the Libertarian Party's nod for the presidency has gotten a bit harder.  Announcing his resignation from the Democratic Party, former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel has cast his lot with the Libertarians and is now seeking the nomination that until recently seemed headed Root's way.

Root, reached for comment today, sounded unconcerned about Gravel's entry and even optimistic about what it could mean for the Libertarian Party.

"[Gravel]'s not a Libertarian," said Root.  "There's nothing about him that is Libertarian.  I don't think the Libertarian Party has any interest in a senator that was defeated twenty-five years ago who doesn't believe in anything that resembles Libertarian philosophy."

Although Root has won several Libertarian Party straw polls and non-binding primaries, the entrance of a high-profile figure like Gravel will almost certainly shake up the Libertarian field.  An expected announcement by former Ga. Congressman Bob Barr may also seriously hurt Root's chances of securing the nomination.

 "The biggest issue [for Libertarians] is cutting government dramatically and Mike Gravel is a big-government, liberal Democrat.  He doesn't want to cut government dramatically; he spent his entire senate career trying to grow government.  He's the exact wrong guy for the Libertarian Party."

Root added, "I'm flattered that he's joining our party, he must think the Libertarian Party offers him something.  I want everybody in the world to think it's a good party and open up and bring more people in, give us more exposure, all good things.  But he will never be the nominee of the Libertarian Party."

Skyler McKinley, national media director of Gravel's campaign, disputed that today.

"Of course Wayne Allyn Root is going to say that," said McKinley.  "Root has been searching for the nomination for a long time and he has been successful in doing this because he's gotten a lot of media attention.  Sen. Gravel is the biggest thing to hit the Libertarian Party in a long time."

"Wayne Allyn Root is in a difficult position because he's a pro-war Libertarian and that's not going to sell very well.  Sen. Gravel is very anti-war, he's very anti-military industrial complex and there's nothing more Libertarian than that."

According to McKinley, Gravel had always intended to run for president this year as a third-party candidate, but had remained in the Democratic Party until recently so he could gain "debate time."

"The debate time has been the most valuable tool in our campaign," said McKinley.

Root and Gravel will face-off for the first time in debate at this month's Heartland Libertarian Conference Apr. 5 in Kansas City, Mo.