Libertarians pick ex-New Mexico Gov. Johnson for president

The Libertarian Party has selected its candidate for the presidency, and it’s the ex-Governor of New Mexico Gary Johnson – a small government, socially liberal former businessman.

“Gary Johnson got 1 percent of the vote last time“, Trump said in NY. “I realize the confidence you’ve put in me to be that spokesperson, and I’m very, very grateful for that”.

Johnson, as the Libertarian presidential candidate in 2012, won one percent of the vote when President Barack Obama won re-election to a second term over Republican Mitt Romney. If Johnson’s support can increase to 15 percent in pre-election polls then he would be the first third-party candidate since Ross Perot in 1992 to participate in the presidential debates.

Johnson was also the party’s candidate in 2012.

Weld potentially faces a stiff challenge from delegates placing more importance on ideological purity and who are unsettled by the prospect of two former Republican governors on the ticket.

“They can like Donald Trump and still like us better”, Weld said.

However, polls referenced by the Blue Nation Review indicate a surprisingly large number of Republicans plan to vote during the 2016 election for Libertarian candidate Johnson. In addition to immigration participants particularly took issue with Trump’s stated positions on global trade and national security – all of which stand in firm opposition to a party that tends to favor lax immigration restrictions, free trade and is skeptical of military intervention.

“Here we are, at some point didn’t anybody get involved with the Libertarian party hoping this might someday happen?”

“Someone doesn’t have to be disaffected with Ms. Clinton to think that we have a good story”, Weld said.

Further, Americans are skeptical when it comes to the nation’s military actions overseas, he said.

Johnson spent most of his acceptance speech and post-nomination press conference pleading for Weld’s nomination as vice president.

His next challenge is to try and qualify for the presidential debates.

Weld secured the nomination on the second ballot, with 50.6 percent of the vote, beating out his nearest rival, Larry Sharpe, by 32 votes.

He hopes that is doable because the Republicans’ Donald Trump and the Democrats’ Hillary Clinton are both seen unfavourably by a majority of voters, according to recent polls. And some die-hard party members remain skeptical that the two former Republicans are Libertarian enough.