Gary Johnson for President in 2012? Libertarian Says Obama Will Win
Third-Party Candidate Looking to Capture Five Percent of Popular Vote to 'Rock the System'
Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson, appearing on the ballot in nearly every state, has admitted that his securing the presidency over Barack Obama or Mitt Romney is a long shot, but that he was still hoping to snag at least 5 percent of the popular vote to affect change in the two-party system.
His supporters meanwhile, have expressed the same view, but were still holding out hope Tuesday night.
"I think Obama's going to win, that's what I think. [My vote is] really spread out, meaning I don't think there's any state that I'm going to do better than another," Johnson told Politico.com on Monday.
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However, the Libertarian candidate whose motto is "live free" has repeatedly said he simply wants recognition for his efforts.
"Regardless of the outcome today, ours is a mission accomplished. We put a true small-government, individual-freedom option on the ballot in virtually every state and have assembled an organization that will carry that message forward," Johnson told Fox News on Election Day.
The Libertarian Party presidential candidate and Lutheran made similar statements to Politico, but wondered what kind of media coverage he might garner.
"The most under-reported significant showing of all time and space when it comes to a presidential election — I would love for that to transpire tomorrow. Get recognized for it. And maybe we even accomplish it and it goes unrecognized. That's also another thing that could be very real. I get 5 percent of the vote but, 'Oh, it's just the pot smokers,'" he said.
If Johnson were to capture 5 percent of the popular vote, his Libertarian Party would be entitled to federal matching funds for the 2016 election, under the Federal Campaign Act. Such an accomplishment might also make it possible for the party to get on ballots in all 50 states, as opposed to 48 and D.C. as is the case with this election.
Many of Johnson's supporters confirmed their vote for the former New Mexico governor Tuesday night, and expressed hope that he would get some attention in the mainstream media.
"Extremely happy with voting for Gary Johnson. I really hope Obama doesn't win tho. This country is bad enough as it is," Alexa Alfaro wrote on Twitter.
Kellen Wynn shared, "I'm praying that by some freak incident Gary Johnson gets elected."
"Gary Johnson needs more media coverage and attention in these elections dengit," wrote Ed Ching.
Johnson, 59, sought to rally his supporters Tuesday evening, telling them to "make history" and "make a difference."
However, when the votes are finally counted Wednesday morning, the former Republican governor of New Mexico says will not be looking to the next four years.
"I hope to remain a spokesperson (for the Libertarian Party) but I think the last thing anybody wants to hear right now is talk about 2016 when everybody's just ready to barf over 2012, so I'll stay away from that," he told Politico.
