Will Gary Johnson's Libertarian switch hurt Ron Paul?

[bigronaldo]

http://reason.com/blog/2011/12/28/gary-johnson-goes-full-libertarian-i-am

I'm half excited and half upset. I'm excited to have a decent candidate (provided he wins the Libertarian nomination) to vote for in the general election if Ron Paul doesn't win the GOP nomination.

However, if Ron Paul does win the GOP nomination, will Johnson pull away votes that Ron Paul needs in order to beat Obama? It's obviously too early to speculate, but I guess I was just hoping that maybe he would wait to see if Ron Paul would win the primaries first and support him if he did.

 

[bluesc]

I wish he would go away, at least until 2016.

 

[ChrisDixon]

I wish he would go away, at least until 2016.

I wish he'd run for the Senate. Like, now.

 

[Jeremy]

If Ron wins I'm sure Gary will endorse him.

 

[PastaRocket848]

he needs to let ron actually accomplish something. running third party doesn't do anything but keep him in the spotlight for a while longer. it is entirely counterproductive when it comes to affecting positive change, which makes me question his motivations.

please gary, it didn't work out for you, bow out like a man.

 

[CaptUSA]

When Ron wins the GOP nomination, the LP candidate will endorse him.

 

[G-Wohl]

Ron Paul should really get Johnson as his VP. That would be a real winning ticket. Johnson, among those who know him, has very high favorable ratings.

 

[Oddone]

He has lost a lot of respect from me, and wouldn't vote for him now or in 2016. I say give Rand Paul our support...

 

[RileyE104]

I think he has a plan.. I mean, on his website it clearly stated "Support Liberty. Support Gary Johnson. Support Ron Paul." or something to that degree...

Perhaps he will try to rally the beltway Libertarians around Ron Paul IF Ron Paul's chances for grabbing the GOP nomination go up.


I don't see him running against Ron Paul in the long run if that's what it comes down to.

 

[bluesc]

Ron Paul should really get Johnson as his VP. That would be a real winning ticket. Johnson, among those who know him, has very high favorable ratings.

Fails to meet Ron's criteria for VP.

Federal reserve - Nope.
Foreign policy - Nope.

Just for kicks..

Abortion - Nope.

 

[hueylong]

Chill. He'll do the right thing at the right time. We just need to focus on our bidness.

 

[RonPaulFever]

Johnson will get 0% percent if Paul gets the GOP nom, because no one in their right mind would choose him over Paul.

 

[bigronaldo]

Johnson will get 0% percent if Paul gets the GOP nom, because no one in their right mind would choose him over Paul.

I hate to say it, but there's a lot of beltway libertarians who would disagree with you.

 

[tbone717]

The LP nominee regardless of who he is will get in the low single digits in the general. Same with the CP. If Paul does not win the nomination there is always someone to vote for in protest. Johnson should step aside now and work for the Paul campaign. Anything less than that would show me that he is more concerned with his personal aspirations rather than the cause of liberty. We have an opportunity here with Ron Paul to do something that hasn't been done in a generation, and that is to take control of the GOP away from the Rockefeller/Establishment wing. Johnson needs to step up and do what he can do to help, not to hurt.

 

[flightlesskiwi]

I think he has a plan.. I mean, on his website it clearly stated "Support Liberty. Support Gary Johnson. Support Ron Paul." or something to that degree...

Perhaps he will try to rally the beltway Libertarians around Ron Paul IF Ron Paul's chances for grabbing the GOP nomination go up.


I don't see him running against Ron Paul in the long run if that's what it comes down to.

if he has a plan, why is he going about it this way? Gary Johnson is in this for Gary Johnson.

it's New Mexico politics. research it a bit.

 

[RonPaulFever]

I hate to say it, but there's a lot of beltway libertarians who would disagree with you.

A lot? How many is that, 40,000? 50,000?

 

[jmdrake]

http://reason.com/blog/2011/12/28/gary-johnson-goes-full-libertarian-i-am

I'm half excited and half upset. I'm excited to have a decent candidate (provided he wins the Libertarian nomination) to vote for in the general election if Ron Paul doesn't win the GOP nomination.

However, if Ron Paul does win the GOP nomination, will Johnson pull away votes that Ron Paul needs in order to beat Obama? It's obviously too early to speculate, but I guess I was just hoping that maybe he would wait to see if Ron Paul would win the primaries first and support him if he did.

You're looking at this wrong. Gary Johnson was hurting us by pulling 1 to 2 percent in the Republican primaries. Now that he's out that support can go to Dr. Paul. All that matters is Dr. Paul winning the GOP nomination. If he did do you seriously think someone like Gary Johnson could pull any significant support? Besides, I would fully expect Gary to suspend his campaign if Ron became the nominee. But if Gary doesn't secure the libertarian nomination then we could have another Bob Barr being the libertarian nominee. This was the best move for all concerned. I swear I think folks stay up at night trying to come up with the worst possible scenario for anything that happens.

 

[blazeKing]

If RP gets the nomination I would think the LP would throw their support behind him and not run anyone. It's their best shot to have someone that holds most of their views be in the White House.

 

[NIU Students for Liberty]

A lot? How many is that, 40,000? 50,000?

Probably not even that. Gary Johnson is not even in the same league that Ron Paul was in 2008 in terms of attention. There is no need for concern.

 

[jmdrake]

Johnson will get 0% percent if Paul gets the GOP nom, because no one in their right mind would choose him over Paul.

I hate to say it, but there's a lot of beltway libertarians who would disagree with you.

So? Who cares? Anyone that idiotic wouldn't vote for Ron Paul anyway. Gary Johnson dropping out of the GOP race is the best thing that could have happened to us. And I wish him the best seeking the libertarian nomination. If Ron doesn't win and doesn't run third party then at least I have someone to vote for. People need to quit bellyaching over what they can't control.