Wayne Allyn Root, Vegas odds-maker , 2008 Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee, and tireless self-promoter (seriously, I don't think he sleeps), just got himself elected chairman of the Libertarian National Congressional Committee. To celebrate, he challenged the Republican and Democratic National Committee chairmen to, well, I'll let him tell it:

I also challenge Michael Steele...and Tim Kaine...to a series of debates in the media, at Tea Party events, and at college campuses across the country.

By challenging the heads of the RNC and DNC to debate, Root is trying to elevate his own position, though he would insist he is simply trying to elevate the LP and its ideas. The LNCC bears roughly the same relationship to the Libertarian National Committee as the Republican National Congressional Committee does to the RNC.

Root knows this because he ran for the LNC chair position over Memorial Day weekend and lost. He came in second behind current LNC Chairman Mark Hinkle. According to the St. Louis Beacon, Root said in his concession speech, "Ladies and gentlemen, you can't get rid of me."

Root clearly wants to run as the LP candidate for president in 2012 as part of an energized, more inclusive third party. The odds seem grim, but then I would have bet against him getting the vice presidential nod.

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