Re: "Georgia voters boot Barr in GOP redistricting showdown," Aug. 21. I find it perplexing that your coverage of the landslide defeat of drug war zealot Bob Barr made no mention of the one factor that may have been the most important in bringing it about. Over a two-week period, Mr. Barr's Libertarian opponent, Carole Ann Rand, flooded Georgia's 7th District with more than 4,000 TV spots. The ads feature a multiple sclerosis victim who lashes out against the congressman for his crusade against medical marijuana.

Because of the redistricting, one Republican incumbent was destined to lose, but the fact that it was Mr. Barr probably had a little less to do with redistricting than you reported.

George Hale, junior, Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas

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