Libertarians pick former New Mexico governor

Aside from the muscular gentleman in the slinky party skirt and halter top, a delegate wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and a prominent speaker sporting a powdered wig, it was a typical political convention.

And by the time the Libertarian National Convention concluded in Las Vegas on Saturday, party members had the man they hope can propel them to relevance in presidential politics.

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson won about 70 percent of the vote on more than 600 ballots, finishing well ahead of Libertarian newsletter founder Lee Wrights.

What it means is Johnson, a former Republican who served two terms as governor from 1995 to 2003, will carry the party's torch in a campaign against Democratic incumbent President Barack Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

Johnson says a "pie-in-the-sky" goal for himself and vice presidential candidate Jim Gray, an Orange County, Calif., Superior Court judge and outspoken critic of the war on drugs, is to generate enough support to qualify for debates on the same stage as Obama and Romney.

"If that happens, anything is possible," Johnson said. "I don't think either Obama or Romney are talking about solutions to the problems."

He's betting a swell of supporters for Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul will shift to the Libertarian candidates once Romney becomes the nominee.

"As much as I would like (Paul) to be the nominee, I don't think that is going to happen," Johnson said.

History says a Libertarian probably will not be included in the debates.

The last candidate who wasn't a Democrat or Republican to participate in a debate with the front-runners was Reform Party candidate Ross Perot in 1992.

But, at least at the convention, Libertarians are hopeful Johnson will fare better. They cite his experience as a popular governor who appealed to Democrats and Republicans in New Mexico and his stances on issues that should have cross-party appeal.

For example Johnson wants to dramatically cut government spending, get the government out of health care, and he supports gun ownership, which could appeal to conservatives. He also is in favor of same-sex marriage and immigration reform that doesn't emphasize using fences and walls to keep people out of the country, stances that tilt left.

"The Libertarian candidate for president is going to be the only candidate talking about gun rights and gay rights in the same sentence," Johnson said.

Unity behind Johnson is a far cry from the 2008 convention in Denver when it took six rounds of voting to nominate former Georgia U.S. Rep. Bob Barr, another former Republican, for president.

Barr, before his conversion to libertarianism, was known as a foreign policy hawk and opponent of gay marriage.

During speeches at the event Saturday, Libertarians spoke of Barr as a candidate who damaged the party's credibility.

"There wasn't this genuine energy for our candidate in 2008 that there is today," said Joseph Silvestri, state party chairman for Nevada and candidate for the new 4th Congressional District.

While delegates such as Silvestri sought to emphasize the party's mainstream appeal, the event also included its share of iconoclasts.

Willy Star Marshall, a delegate from Utah, shook hands and mingled while wearing an outfit that resembled an 1880s cavalry uniform and carrying a large rainbow flag. Marshall, a longtime Libertarian, made national headlines in 2001 when he became the first openly gay mayor in Utah. His earliest acts as mayor of Big Water included repealing his own salary and calling for the legalization of marijuana.

"I'm a Libertarian because I believe in freedom," Marshall said. Major party candidates "talk a little different but in practice Obama continues the wars and Republicans expand welfare."

The apparent unity behind Johnson as a presidential candidate didn't extend to voting for national party chairman.

After one vote ousted current Chairman Mark Hinkle, delegates were divided on subsequent votes between current Vice Chairman Mark Rutherford and "none of the above."

The insurgent push for "none of the above" came largely from people seeking to install Wrights as chairman.

With delegates from several states challenging a razor-thin margin, the convention adjourned to a cocktail party and dinner without electing a new chairman.

That process resumes today .

Contact reporter Benjamin Spillman at
bspillman@reviewjournal.com.