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Gary Johnson expected to switch to Libertarian Party Gary Johnson switches to Libertarian Party
(about 1 hour later)
Longshot Republican candidate Gary Johnson is to declare he will run for president with the Libertarian Party. Longshot Republican candidate Gary Johnson has declared he will run for president with the Libertarian Party.
The former New Mexico governor is holding a noon news conference in his home state to make the announcement. In a press conference, the former New Mexico governor said voters were fed up with the two-party system.
He appeared in just two debates and complained in a recent interview the Republican party "hung me out to dry". He appeared in just two TV debates and complained in a recent interview the Republican party "hung me out to dry".
A recent poll suggested he could take votes from a Republican nominee as a third-party candidate, helping Barack Obama win a second term next year. A recent poll suggested he could take votes from the eventual Republican nominee as a third-party candidate, helping Barack Obama win a second term.
That same survey found another Republican candidate, Ron Paul, could draw an even larger share of the vote from the party's eventual nominee if he switched to an independent candidacy. That same survey found another Republican candidate, Ron Paul, could draw an even larger share of the vote from the party's eventual candidate if he ran as an independent.
Frozen out and frustratedFrozen out and frustrated
Texas Congressman Paul, who has refused publicly to countenance the idea of a third-party bid, shares some of Mr Johnson's libertarian-leaning views.Texas Congressman Paul, who has refused publicly to countenance the idea of a third-party bid, shares some of Mr Johnson's libertarian-leaning views.
Mr Johnson, a popular two-term governor of New Mexico, supports liberal causes such as legalising marijuana and abortion rights. Mr Johnson supports liberal causes such as legalising marijuana and abortion rights.
But he supports abolishing the Department of Education and drastically reducing the scope of the Internal Revenue Service, including scrapping the corporate income tax. But he also backs abolishing the Department of Education and drastically reducing the scope of the Internal Revenue Service, including scrapping the corporate income tax.
As governor, he set records for vetoing legislation, left the south-western state with a budget surplus and fired over 1,000 state employees. Mr Johnson told supporters on Wednesday in Santa Fe, New Mexico, that he believes his political stance "resonates with most Americans".
As two-term Republican governor of New Mexico, he set records for vetoing legislation, left the south-western state with a budget surplus and fired over 1,000 state employees. He also continued to pay dues to the Libertarian Party.
Mr Johnson's frustration with being frozen out of televised Republican debates came to a head in mid-November.Mr Johnson's frustration with being frozen out of televised Republican debates came to a head in mid-November.
After being barred from several debates based on requirements set by each host, the Johnson campaign complained to the federal election watchdog. After being barred from several forums based on requirements set by each host, he complained to the federal election watchdog.
His performance in national polls has been generally low, and in some cases Mr Johnson's name was not on the list of potential Republican candidates. Mr Johnson's performance in national opinion polls has been generally low, and in some cases his name was not on the list of potential Republican candidates.
If, as expected, he runs as a Libertarian, he would have to win over the six current registered candidates for the party's nomination. He will still have to beat the six current registered Libertarian candidates for that party's presidential nomination, although he has the highest profile out of them all.
But Mr Johnson continued to pay dues to the Libertarian party while serving as the Republican governor, and would be the highest profile of the current Libertarian candidates.