The Libertarian Presidential Nominee is…


Gary Johnson.

Gary Johnson.

ORLANDO, FLA. — Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson won the Libertarian presidential nomination on second ballot at the Libertarian National Convention today, and while he expects socially liberal voters will gravitate toward his candidacy, particular constituencies like LGBT activists will need to come to him rather than the other way around.

“It’s never been my tactic to reach out to anybody,” Johnson told The Advocate after securing his party’s nomination. “The message that I have is the same message no matter whom I’m addressing, and the most effective reach-out is just saying the things that should be said. In that context, the LBGT [sic] community should embrace what it is that we’re saying.”

Late in the afternoon, the party also nominated former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, Johnson’s hand-picked running mate, as the vice presidential nominee. That came a day after Weld made a direct appeal to LGBT voters, noting his history of nominating the first state Supreme Court justice to hold marriage equality as a constitutional right.

Normally, I’d say doesn’t have a snowball’s chance, but with Trump splitting voters all over the place, nothing is certain anymore.

The Advocate has the full story.

Comments

  1. lorn says

    Is running for office the opposite of ‘going Galt’? Doesn’t that violate some sort of Libertarian ideal? Is Gary Johnson doing Libertarianism wrong?

  2. rq says

    The fact that “particular constituencies like LGBT activists will need to come to him” certainly sounds libertarian enough. Not sure how that will help him, though!

  3. says

    rq, yeah, I was commenting to Rick this morning about that “I don’t reach out” business. He thinks that’s a good idea in politics?

  4. rq says

    He thinks that’s a good idea in politics?

    If being a politician means sitting around and waiting for your work to come to you, yes. Personally, I think he has a major lazy streak. But what do I know! :)

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