Bob Barr, the Master of a Curious Universe

One day recently, Verney takes out the office trash himself. He has only 11 people working for him, "including three interns," he says, prompting Barr's receptionist to chirp, "I'm getting you more interns, though!"

After a conference call with some libertarian-leaning bloggers, Barr stands in a cubicle, near his deputy campaign manager, Shane Cory, talking about how much he loves Bob Marley, whom he discovered in 1978 after getting out of the CIA. Oh, and Pink Floyd. He talks about the shoes he's wearing -- black boots that go up to his ankles.

"I wear half-boots, and Shane doesn't -- it's the free market!" he says.

Jeri Barr, who is the CEO of a social services agency, comes into the headquarters after getting off work. She leans over the cubicle wall.

"I have a question for you," she says. "I have an opportunity to get reasonably priced tickets to 'Wicked.' "

"To what?" Bob asks.

" 'Wicked.' "

"Oh, I thought you said 'Wicca,' " Barr says, chuckling. Look! Bob Barr's dimples.

"Do you want me to just pass over you and just take Heidi?" Jeri asks, referring to her daughter from a previous marriage.

"I probably would," Barr says.

Jeri goes to work on her BlackBerry. Barr begins a discussion with staffers about what tie to wear for the filming of a Web video. Red? Turquoise? He treats the topic with Barrlike seriousness, advocating for the turquoise.

"Okay," Jeri says, looking up from her BlackBerry. "I just put it on my calendar to do 'Wicked' on the 15th of October and -- that's one of the presidential debates. You really think you'll be doing a debate?"

"I hope so!" Barr says.

"Sorry, honey, can't come to the debate. We're going to 'Wicked,' " Jeri teases.

"I think it would be better, 'Sorry, Heidi, I can't come to "Wicked," I'm going to the presidential debate,' " Barr says. He means this playfully, although even Bob Barr's playful sounds a little bit stern. He walks off to do his thing for the camera.