Mike Gravel

Former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr won the Libertarian nomination for president Sunday afternoon at the Denver Sheraton.

Barr won on the sixth ballot over longtime Libertarian activist Mary Ruwart.

Libertarian National Convention delegates now have to select a vice-presidential candidate.

"This will be a historic and positive campaign that will succeed," Barr said in his victory speech. "This is a campaign that will win."

Seven Libertarians debate in Denver: From left: former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr; former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel; Libertarian activists George Phillies, Michael Jingozian, Mary Ruwart, Steve Kubby, and Wayne Allyn Root.

Seven candidates for the Libertarian presidential nomination squared off at a Denver debate Saturday evening, the day before Libertarian National Convention delegates vote on what’s considered to be a wide-open race for the nomination.

Although the seven candidates come from a range of political backgrounds, all largely agreed Saturday  on a variety of issues ranging from opposing the Iraq War and government-run health care to supporting gun rights and ending the war on drugs.

The seven debaters were former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.); former U.S. Senator Mike Gravel (D-Alaska); Las Vegas oddsmaker Wayne Allyn Root; Libertarian activists George Phillies of Massachusetts and Michael Jingozian of Oregon; and former California gubernatorial candidate Steve Kubby.

The moderator was Fox News contributor James Pinkerton.

Libertarian National Convention delegates discuss party bylaws Friday in DenverWhile Denver prepares for the Democratic National Convention in August, more than 1,000 delegates will gather at the Denver Sheraton this weekend for the Libertarian National Convention.

In contrast to the upcoming DNC or the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis this September, the 2008 Libertarian National Convention is anything but a coronation.

Delegates will choose between 14 Libertarian presidential candidates - including apparent front-runners former U.S. Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.), 2008 Democratic presidential candidate and former U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel (D-Alaska), TV personality and sports gambling handicapper Wayne Allan Root of Nevada, and longtime Libertarian activist Mary Ruwart of Texas.

More photos after the jump.