Gary Johnson, aka the lesser-known libertarian running for president, told TPM Monday that he’s got his fingers crossed that he’ll get on a televised debate stage before September is out.
Johnson, a former two-term governor of New Mexico, hasn’t shown up much in 2012 Republican primary polls. And for that reason, he hasn’t made it to the stage for any of the three debates held in the contest this month. Tomorrow, he says, he’ll find out if he’s made the cut for the last debate of the month, hosted by Fox News and YouTube in Orlando, FL next week.
Much has been written — mostly by Dave Weigel — about the weird rules that Johnson said seem designed to keep him out of the debates. The libertarian said he’s “not whining” about being left off the list for debates, but he speculated that maybe the GOP establishment would rather not have two people with his political philosophy on stage.
“Is it that Ron Paul is enough? That that’s enough of a sideshow?” he said. “If we do it in stereo speakers people might actually listen and find harmony in it? And think that it might be a number one tune? I don’t know.”
When pressed, Johnson admitted that he wouldn’t be entirely speaking in stereo with Paul if he took the debate stage. Though both men advocate deep cuts to the federal government in therms of defense spending and fundamental changes to the tax code — Johnson is pushing for a Fair Tax-style federal sales tax to replace the income tax — Johnson said he’s different from everyone else seen in the GOP debates because he’s not a social conservative. He’s pro-choice, pro-gay marriage (both of which he says should be regulated at the state level) and pro-marijuana legalization.
Johnson said his people are talking to Fox News about the debate inclusion rules, and he expects to find out Tuesday if he’s earned stage space. (He said he’s also expecting to speak along with the other candidates at CPAC Florida, but he hasn’t heard for sure if that’s happening either.)
If the current trend holds true, you won’t be seeing Johnson sparring with Rick Perry this week.
