Gary Johnson to seek Libertarian nomination

[TheGlobalizer]

Not that it matters, but is that really his hair or does he wear a toupee? Looks a little Trafficantish.

That asked, I might actually vote for Johnson as a Libertarian.

Dude's granola as sh**t, no way he wears a toupee.

[tmthforu94]

He should run for Senate. He has a good chance of winning that race, which would be a nice pickup for the GOP. Then, in 4-8 years, he'll have a stronger following and, as a Senator, could actually have a chance at winning the nomination.

[Averroës Nix]

He should run for Senate. He has a good chance of winning that race, which would be a nice pickup for the GOP. Then, in 4-8 years, he'll have a stronger following and, as a Senator, could actually have a chance at winning the nomination.

I don't understand why he didn't do this either, and I've been puzzled about it since he first floated rumors of a presidential campaign last winter. Does he have a bad relationship with the NM GOP?

[Bull Moose Base]

GJ's problem isn't that he lacks experience in congress.  He has a deeper resume than the field except Perry factoring government executive experience.  GJ has a different problem: divergence from party orthodoxy + Paul taking his niche.  The first one is only remedied by pandering which GJ appears uninterested in.  The second one is irrelevant without the first changing.  And like Paul passing on the Texas senate race in favor of a quixotic presidential run, GJ wants a national stage.

[tmthforu94]

GJ's problem isn't that he lacks experience in congress.  He has a deeper resume than the field except Perry factoring government executive experience.  GJ has a different problem: divergence from party orthodoxy + Paul taking his niche.  The first one is only remedied by pandering which GJ appears uninterested in.  The second one is irrelevant without the first changing.  And like Paul passing on the Texas senate race in favor of a quixotic presidential run, GJ wants a national stage.

Quixotic would not be a word I'd use to describe Paul's campaign. In 2008? Maybe. But in 2012, Paul actually has a realistic shot at winning the nomination.

[H.E. VOLODYMYR ZELENKSYY]

If he wins, do you guys think he could be a significant third-party challenger?

[TheGlobalizer]

He should run for Senate. He has a good chance of winning that race, which would be a nice pickup for the GOP. Then, in 4-8 years, he'll have a stronger following and, as a Senator, could actually have a chance at winning the nomination.

I don't understand why he didn't do this either, and I've been puzzled about it since he first floated rumors of a presidential campaign last winter. Does he have a bad relationship with the NM GOP?

In short, yes.  His relationship with the NM GOP roughly corresponds with Ron Paul's relationship with the national GOP.  He "jumped in line" when he won the governorship and that didn't win a ton of friends.

Plus, it's well-known (though not official) that Susana Martinez is backing Heather Wilson, so that race is effctively over.

[Averroës Nix]

ship with the national GOP.  He "jumped in line" when he won the governorship and that didn't win a ton of friends.

It's unfortunate that he hasn't to launch an independent campaign. He has a small personal fortune (despite New Mexico's size, it's not really an expensive state to campaign in, right?), and it seems like he's popular enough in New Mexico to pull it off.

[TheGlobalizer]

ship with the national GOP.  He "jumped in line" when he won the governorship and that didn't win a ton of friends.

It's unfortunate that he hasn't to launch an independent campaign. He has a small personal fortune (despite New Mexico's size, it's not really an expensive state to campaign in, right?), and it seems like he's popular enough in New Mexico to pull it off.

Well, he likes to run stuff.  To be honest, I'm not sure he'd want to be bothered with legislative sausage-making.

[minionofmidas]

ship with the national GOP.  He "jumped in line" when he won the governorship and that didn't win a ton of friends.

It's unfortunate that he hasn't to launch an independent campaign.

From the Democratic operative perspective? Quite.

[Averroës Nix]

It's unfortunate that he hasn't to launch an independent campaign.

From the Democratic operative perspective? Quite.

Not necessarily. Johnson might have had a better shot at taking the seat than whoever the Republicans eventually nominate.

[TheGlobalizer]

It's unfortunate that he hasn't to launch an independent campaign.

From the Democratic operative perspective? Quite.

Not necessarily. Johnson might have had a better shot at taking the seat than whoever the Republicans eventually nominate.

If he was the GOP nominee, he'd probably roll Heinrich.  Heinrich just ain't that good.  And he's white, so no Hispano-Dem loyalty bonus.

[Frodo]

Gary Johnson confirms everyone's suspicions:

Gary Johnson to drop out of GOP primary to run as Libertarian

By REID J. EPSTEIN and GINGER GIBSON | 12/20/11 7:53 PM EST Updated: 12/20/11 8:45 PM EST

Gary Johnson will quit the Republican primaries and seek the Libertarian Party nomination instead, POLITICO has learned.

The former two-term New Mexico governor, whose campaign for the GOP nomination never caught fire, will make the announcement at a press conference in Santa Fe on Dec. 28. Johnson state directors will be informed of his plans on a campaign conference call Tuesday night, a Johnson campaign source told POLITICO.

The move has been expected for weeks — Johnson had run a New Hampshire-centric effort that never got him past a blip in the polls. He appeared at only two nationally televised debates, and only one in which other major candidates took part.

Johnson expressed deep disillusionment with the process as his libertarian message failed to catch fire and he received almost no attention for his bid. He soon began flirting with the Libertarians when it became clear that he was gaining no traction in GOP primaries.

“I’m still in the race,” Johnson told POLITICO last month. “I’m registered in New Hampshire and the intention would be, hope against hope that I would be able to be heard. But there is not much hope.”

Johnson didn’t immediately return a phone call Tuesday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70727.html#ixzz1h88rpwR4

[Miles]

Well, I wish him well.

Now, if Huntsman could only run as a Democrat....

[exopolitician]

If he gets the Lib nomination, Obama will be very pleased.

[Mr. Morden]

G-Jo makes it official:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/12/28/free_at_last_gary_johnson_is_free_at_last.html

[Adele is pudgy!]

Can Ron Paul still nominate Johnson as his running mate?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Can Ron Paul still nominate Johnson as his running mate?

Why are we even discussion something that is never going to happen (Paul as GOP nominee)?

[Middle-aged Europe]

And even if it were to happen... why would he choose Gary Johnson as running mate?

Because John McCain chose Rudy Giuliani over Sarah Palin back in 2008?

Or because Ron Paul would want to split the Republican Party for good?

[Adele is pudgy!]

And even if it were to happen... why would he choose Gary Johnson as running mate?

Because John McCain chose Rudy Giuliani over Sarah Palin back in 2008?

Or because Ron Paul would want to split the Republican Party for good?

Because Ron Paul is a very old man. Thus, he can't be sure of himself surviving one whole term.
Thus, he will predestine somebody that is ideologically very near to him.
I.e. Gary Johnson or Rand Paul.

[Middle-aged Europe]

Because Ron Paul is a very old man. Thus, he can't be sure of himself surviving one whole term.
Thus, he will predestine somebody that is ideologically very near to him.
I.e. Gary Johnson or Rand Paul.

But only in Bizarro World.