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Jim Cole / AP, file
Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson in Concord, New Hampshire, in October.
EXETER, N.H. -- Former two-term New Mexico governor and GOP hopeful Gary Johnson is dropping out of the Republican nomination race to run as a Libertarian candidate, NBC News has confirmed.
Johnson's campaign spokesman Joe Hunter cited Johnson's lack of exposure within the Republican party as a main reason for his decision to seek the Libertarian nomination.
Johnson appeared in only two of more than a dozen nationally televised debates and had trouble getting his shoestring campaign off the ground in early states. He will make an official announcement next Wednesday at a press conference in Santa Fe.
"His exclusion from the debates and lack of acknowledgement from the Republican establishment has been very frustrating," Hunter told NBC News. "His commitment since day one to get his message out."
Johnson's decision has been anticipated since he paused his New Hampshire-centric campaign several weeks ago.
His strategy shift notably began when Johnson nearly missed the registration deadline for New Hampshire's primary in October.
Johnson completed the filing with just hours to spare after a campaign staff mistake and a last-minute red-eye flight from Arizona to Manchester.
Several staff members left the campaign shortly afterward and Johnson quickly stopped canvassing in New Hampshire thereafter.
Johnson is known for his support for legalizing marijuana. He also supports abortion rights.
As New Mexico governor, he often worked with the Libertarian party to advance his agenda so this move is not entirely out of his comfort zone.
"Going back to his governor days, he has been comfortable with the Libertarian label," Hunter said.
The Libertarian party national convention will be held in Las Vegas next spring.
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The 2 party system gave us the players and our current situation. We need a 3rd party. I hope Ron Paul can get 37% of the republican vote, and be the nominee. If not, I hope he runs as a 3rd party.
There is very little difference between the mainstream, special interests and their friends in the loop. Ron Paul, 2012, now more than ever! If we re-elect another 2 party re-run, nothing will change for the better.
...anything to split the republican vote.
Why, because he isn't brainwashed that the "War on Drugs" and "Pro-Life" movements are the cornerstone of good fiscal policy?
I commend Gary for being a truly independent thinker... Unlike the Tea Partiers, he actually follows a common-sense approach to reducing debt. Legalizing marijuana and expanding abortion rights will do wonders economically. The GOP probably won't consider him too serious of a threat though, because they have their sheep brainwashed that the "War on Drugs" and "Pro-Life" movements are the cornerstone of morality.
Thinking Scientist,
Same talking point I saw last night. If you think that legalizing drugs or murdering unborn babies are commendable 'free-thinker' attributes then you need your head examined. The 'sheep' that you speak of at least have enough basic human decency to understand that supporting the two above named attrocities are inhuman and contribute to the decay of society.
Really, rightwingnut69? Separation of church and state...ring a bell? I certainly don't want anyone's religion dictating policy. You can see just how well religion governs the masses in the Middle East. Marijuana an atrocity contributing to the decay of society? Hmmmmm. Are you aware that there are more uses for hemp than just smoking? I can cite numerous atrocites perpetrated by organized religion and its representatives. Wow. Think for yourself sometime, you might just like it.
there are many parties
communist,green,social democrate,and even a nazi.
when you vote,look at them all.
next few months gonna be interesting ...esp after 4 dems in NY plead quilty to voter registration fraud, imagine that. No wonder dems are so violently opposed to Voter ID's.
Gary Johnson is Ron Paul junior
Awsome, have you got a link to this story? I would like to read about it.
this year a third party candidate will split the republicans vote....and we will be stuck with four more years of obamanomics.
obamanomics,...haha. Well, maybe the unemployment rate will drop significantly with the advent of a few million more government and 'green' jobs. As long as China continues to loan us money anyway (sarcasm).
Obamnomics, Perrynomics, Bachmannomics, Gingrichomics, Santorumnomics, Huntsmanomics, Romneynomics, are all in the same half acre of the Dailey comics. At least there is a space between business as usual, and Ron Paul. The media, as we all know them, will get befuddled when he tells the truth to their power.
The lobbyists run the business as usual crowded field of all mainstream parties, and the contenders that they bless.
Mr. Johnson is a nobody and will remain a nobody even if he becomes the Libertarian Party nominee. Although he believes there is "global warming" and it's man-made, he just doesn't want to do anything about it. He supported school vouchers, thereby assailing public school education. He wants to reduce corporate taxes to zero. Although I like his stand that government should not be dictating private behavior like marijuana smoking, he's still a corporate toady. He's just a Republican hack who Herman Cain trounced in the polls, a loser who craves personal attention beyond his abilities, like other Republican candidates.
Unless Ron Paul get's the nomination, then I will be voting for Gary Johnson. Another election where I vote for the right guy, but he won't get elected. I always vote that way though, because I just don't believe in voting for the lesser of two evils, just so I can vote for a winner. I am proud that I have never voted for a winner in a presidential election, and usually not in state elections either. So be it, Gary Johnson was a great governor in New Mexico.
Governor Richardson took credit for a lot of his achievements, screwed up a lot of things governor Johnson had in the works, and generally ran New Mexico into the ground, kind of like Obama. But the democrats seem to think the free lunches will keep coming for ever. I have decided not to pay for any more free lunches, as have millions of other Americans.
I will live on a subsistence income until the US government starts reducing it's intrusiveness on my life. I am not a slave. I can legally remove my support from the government, by no longer producing anything that is placed on any financial record. Just earn no more income, pay no more taxes. Simple, aye? Actually, you can creatively use the tax code to earn about $35K, get about $10-15K in government subsidies, and pay no taxes, so that is the kind of approach I am opting for.
Those who have contributed in the past should quit. Withhold your contribution, until your contribution is recognized and rewards are again decided on merit. Do not contribute just because they demand it -- you do not owe them your talents, hard work, and natural god given abilities, they have no right to demand. Time for the great minds and talents, the ones that have built the world, to go on strike. Take vacation, folks, until sanity returns to the world. The needy are not the standard by which the world must be gauged.
A Viable Third Party is what the People of this Country are Looking For. It's Past Time. Both the Dem. and Rep. have sold the Country Out and everyone knows it. The Time is Ripe for a Third Party.
If Obama is reelected the reason will be because all the republicans in the race suck, not because of a third party. None of these candidates for the GOP nomination have a clue, except for Ron Paul and the GOP/media establishment will not allow him to be on the ballot.
He will run as a Libertarian, and he will lose as a Libertarian.
But I may vote for him to speak my truth.
We need a third and fourth party in this country.
RON PAUL SUCKS! He's A 76 Year old BIGOT!!!
http://www.nationalmemo.com/article/lethal-fantasies-dear-old-ron-paul
This has already been debunked....
canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/43377.
read the rest of the article Hosebee and then try again.
Also, this idiot is connected in no way to Ron Paul.
What are Libertarian ideals, anyway? I know nothing about any party except Dems and Repubs, which I do not plan to support.
Libertarianism is the belief in individual liberty, smaller governent, lower taxes. Things the GOP used to stand for, before being taken over by the christian taliban and rinos who love to spend money.
I hope that almost all Democrats vote for Johnson. Enough of them voting fot him should make a Republican victory in 2012.
Republicans-- make sure you engourage ALL Democrats to vote for Johnson.
Most republicans can't discern the difference between the words libertarian and liberal, so they don't trust either. We get the economy fixed and then we need to focus on education for the adult population. The ignorance is simply astounding, and a little sad.
looking for a political party?
type in us political parties and take your pick.
Ron Paul can't win and if he does you'll just be putting OBAMA back in office. He is to old to run this country and you people should know that.