Independent Political Report says Gary Johnson will officially declare that he has become a registered Libertarian, and that he will seek the Libertarian Party presidential nomination, on December 15. See here. The report has already been picked up by Political Wire.
On December 14, Johnson, in a speech, mentioned that in 1995, Newt Gingrich introduced a bill providing for the death penalty for anyone who transported as little as eight ounces of an illegal drug (including marijuana) into the United States.
Also on December 14, some news reports said that the Michigan Secretary of State had refused to let Gary Johnson withdraw from the Republican presidential primary ballot, and that this might make it impossible for him to be the Libertarian Party’s presidential nominee. The Michigan law does not interfere with the Libertarian Party’s right to nominate Gary Johnson in that state, even though his name remains on the Republican presidential primary ballot. The Michigan law covers independents, and clearly does not refer to presidential primary candidates, because it refers to candidates who applied for a place on a primary ballot by petition or filing fee. Johnson did not apply to be on the Michigan Republican primary ballot. He was listed automatically because he had been discussed in the news media earlier as someone seeking the Republican nomination. Michigan, like certain other states, lists presidential primary candidates automatically, without any input from them. The Secretary of State refused his request to withdraw because the withdrawal form forces the candidate to say he is not running for President.
So if Johnson wins the Libertarian nomination and Paul goes into the GOP convention with enough delegates to broker the GOP convention but doesn’t win the GOP nomination is there anything preventing Johnson from nominating Paul as his Libetarian running mate despite the fact that the Libertarian convention will precede the GOP’s convention?
As I understand it, Johnson could only say who he would like to have as his VP. The convention is under no obligation to go along with him. The selection is all theirs.
Richard–we’ve since backed off of this. When I reported it, I’m quite sure it was true–with numerous sources telling me the same date. Now, Johnson is saying he won’t announce tomorrow. I suspect he saw that it was being rumored and changed the date–deciding instead to soak up the free media.
Brad M- The LP Convention would choose the VP nominee she they hold the Convention, which is about 2 months before the GOP convention. Inother words the scenario you played out would be impossible. Paul would have to make that decision before or during the LP convention
The third paragraph begins “On December 15, some news reports said ….” It’s still Dec. 14 in the United States as of this writing.
Gary Johnson has not filed so far in Texas.
Ron Paul will win Iowa, but I don’t really see him garnering any other states. He will most likely drop out of the running 2 months before the GOP convention, which is when the LP convention is (May 4-6 in Las Vegas, NV). Therefore, there is a strong possibility that Gary Johnson, if he wins the LP nomination, will nominate Paul as his veep. But, if Paul wins Iowa and a couple other states then he probably won’t back out anytime soon.
BTW, here’s an excellent resource for GOP 2012 polls by state. http://freedomslighthouse.net/2012-gop-primary-caucus-polls/
Divide and Conquer.
Worked for Julius Caesar in Gaul about 50 B.C.
Still works.
#7, the Republican convention is at the end of August, so it is almost four months after the LP convention. The Republican convention opens August 27.
#5, thank you very much. I just now fixed the post.
According to the Libertarian Party bylaws, no one can be nominated without being willing to accept the nomination. Ron Paul would be unlikely to accept a VP nomination from the LP, if he still was in the running for the GOP nomination.
Paul is more likely to leave the GOP just prior to the LP convention if his GOP run isn’t getting much support. In that case it’d be more likely that Johnson would be VP to Paul at the top of the ticket. To have it the other way around would feel like an upside-down ticket
I’m really not wild about Gary “I support the Fair Tax” Johnson as the LP’s candidate.
@8
With Caesar it was more Conquer and Divide, not Divide and Conquer.
@Andy/12
I’d like to see a Wrights/Johnson ticket. Does that tickle your fancy?
#11 Shawn, I agree with you. Paul in the #2 slot would be turned upside down to some degree.
Maybe Paul plays out his GOP run until he sees he can’t influence the GOP convention, i.e. a GOP candidate turns on fire (other than Paul) and gets a decided # of delegate votes wrapped up.
Paul can probably announce the week before the LP convention and it will be a done deal.
#13 See 1860 and 1992 and 2000 for examples of D and C.
“@Andy/12
I’d like to see a Wrights/Johnson ticket. Does that tickle your fancy?”
Only if “tickling my fancy” means causing me to barf.
Pingback: Independent Political Report Says Gary Johnson Will Formally Declare for Libertarian Nomination on December 15 | ThirdPartyPolitics.us