Candidate Profile: Gary Johnson, Libertarian for President

Johnson, a former Governor of New Mexico, is the Libertarian Party nominee for president in 2012.

Name : Gary Johnson Age : 59 Place of residence : Taos, N.M. Attended college : Yes College : University of New Mexico Degree : Bachelor Degree Year of graduation : 1975 Job titles held :  Door-to-Door Handyman Business Owner, Big J Enterprises Founder/Chairman, Our America Initiative Party affiliation : Libertarian Running for a: Federal office Running for position: President of the United States Incumbent: No First elected: 1994 Previous elective offices : Governor, N.M. Unsuccessful bids for elective offices : None. Address 731 E South Temple               Salt Lake City               Utah 84102 Website : http://www.garyjohnson2012.com/ Twitter : www.http://twitter.com/govgaryjohnson Facebook : http://www.facebook.com/govgaryjohnson/ …

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Election Notebook

Can Gary Johnson Win Over NH Ron Paul Supporters?

The former Republican presidential candidate is now running as a Libertarian.

A lot has changed in a year for Gary Johnson. A year ago at this time, the former New Mexico governor was spending most of his time in New Hampshire, campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination. But his campaign never gained much traction here, and shortly after an early October bike ride across the state, Johnson's New Hampshire staffers quit in frustration just before Thanksgiving. Two weeks later, Johnson basically threw in the towel. "It's not happening in New Hampshire," Johnson said at the time. "We rode bikes 500 miles across the state, we scheduled town halls – for whatever reason, nobody's really coming out to hear what it is I have to say." Johnson returns to New Hampshire this week as the Libertarian Party's …

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Johnson Optimistic About Libertarian Presidential Campaign [VIDEO]

Candidate hopes to carry Ron Paul torch.

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, one of 11 candidates seeking the Libertarian Party presidential nomination, made a campaign stop in Concord on March 7, reaching out to party activists and raising money for his campaign. Johnson met with about 25 people at the party’s new office on North Main Street. For nearly two hours, the candidate answered questions about his policy positions and how he planned to run his campaign. Johnson said he was focusing on gaining as much 15 percent in the polls in order to qualify for a place in the national debates. Currently, he’s polling as high as 9 percent, Johnson said. After getting on as many ballots as possible, he’ll be attempting to raise money via the federal public finance system and then, …

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N.H. Primary

Hilary Clinton Gets Write-ins in Exeter

The Secretary of State won the New Hampshire Primary in 2008.

Hilary Clinton, who won the New Hampshire Primary in 2008 but lost the eventual Democratic nomination to Barack Obama, got five write-in votes in Exeter in yesterday's Primary. Clinton, now the Secretary of State, got more votes in Exeter than Republicans Gary Johnson (three) and Fred Karger (one) – two candidates who actually campaigned in town. Johnson made several stops in Exeter, including one at the RiverWoods senior housing community. Karger stumped at the American Independence Festival. The write-ins for Clinton appeared to be the biggest oddity of yesterday's Primary results in Exeter – save for the 12 votes cast for Vermin Supreme, making him second on the Democratic ballot to Obama (832 votes). Full Exeter voting results can be …

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Primary Faces: End of the Undecided Line [VIDEO]

Here's what locals had to say about swaying undecideds a day before the primary.

Editor's Note: Primary Faces is a regular feature on those who make the New Hampshire Primary tick – you, the voter. There's one day left until Granite Staters cast their Republican and Democratic primary ballots, and like the Primary Faces column itself, indecision must come to a close. The conclusion of our Primary Faces video series takes a look at the ever-so-important final days before the primary and what local residents say will have the biggest impact on undecideds and Independents. The above video features an Independent from North Hampton and a Brentwood woman who was recently swayed by Mitt Romney's campaign. The individuals discuss some of the above points, as well as what other undecided and recently-decided voters must do now…

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N.H. Primary

Former Gary Johnson NH Staffers Back Ron Paul

Decision comes two days after Johnson announced he's running as Libertarian.

Gary Johnson's five former New Hampshire staffers announced Friday that they are now endorsing Ron Paul for president. "Like many political observers, we see clear and compelling differences between Congressman Ron Paul and the other candidates who will garner significant support in New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary," the five former staffers said in a statement. The five staffers include Brinck Slattery, Johnson's former state coordinator; Matt Simon, his former communications director; Nick Murray, his former Seacoast field coordinator and college coordinator; Andy Hauger, his former Merrimack Valley field coordinator; and Eric Jackman, his former Southwestern New Hampshire field coordinator. All five quit the Johnson team …

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Primary Countdown

Huntsman Hounds Voters Till 2012

No vote goes uncourted as presidential hopefuls make primary dash.

Forget Iowa. Jon Huntsman did. He's campaigning here right up until the clock strikes 2012. But will that resolve last a few more days longer until the New Hampshire Primary? Or will auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind? Mind yourself, this is your Primary Countdown for Wednesday, Dec. 28. There are 13 days until we see if Huntsman's eggs-in-one-basket approach will allow him to pass Go and woo voters in other early states. Barnstormin' Jon Huntsman even has a party on New Year's Eve–albeit at midday–at the house of Jim Rubens, a former state senator and gubernatorial hopeful who has a share of conservative street cred. Some really, really like him: We asked Rubens what he likes in Huntsman. Rubens emailed back: "I like …

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Primary Countdown

Huntsman's Primary Push

Supporters sweep the state in search of undecided voters.

Mitt Romney mingles with voters today before jetting off to Iowa, leaving the first-in-the-nation political playground to Jon Huntsman. Steve Forbes will be stumping around the 603 for Rick Perry, but let's face it, this week is really the calm before the storm. Enjoy it while it lasts. Welcome to Primary Countdown for Tuesday, Dec. 27. You've two more weeks of soup-to-nuts coverage until the New Hampshire Primary. Is Central NH Centric NH? Jon Huntsman has a town hall meeting Wednesday in Pelham, and his schedule takes his "Restoring Trust" tour to Central New Hampshire, with a swing through the Lakes Region, on Thursday and Friday. He's got some smart New Hampshire people on his campaign. Anyone else wonder where they see the independent…

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Primary Countdown

Romney Running on His Own Terms

Will the front-runner skip a debate on Primary eve?

With a burrito in hand and a lead deep in pocket, Mitt Romney ends his three-day bus tour today in Concord. All signs point to the former Massachusetts governor having a good week in his adopted state. All signs, too, point to Romney running on his own terms. WMUR reports that Romney has yet to agree to participate in its debate on Jan. 7, three days before the New Hampshire Primary. All this led the news station to ask again, Is Romney playing it too safe? Here is your Primary Countdown for Friday, Dec. 23, 18 days remain until the New Hampshire Primary. About that Burrito Madness: The "Earn It" tour wraps up today in Concord. Mitt Romney's bus and car caravan has an 8 a.m. stop at the Tilt'N Diner in Tilton, then it snakes its way down I…

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NH Primary

Gary Johnson to Run As Libertarian

His campaign recently gave up on New Hampshire.

Gary Johnson, who has been campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, will ditch it for the Libertarian nomination, according to Politico. Johnson will officially announce his plans later this month in Santa Fe, New Mexio, Politico reported. Johnson is a former governor of that state. Up until last month, Johnson made New Hampshire the centerpiece of his campaign. But he failed to gain traction in state polls, barely made it on time to register for the New Hampshire Primary, and had staff members quit on him. His campaign abandoned New Hampshire in mid-November. Since then, he has frequently talked about the idea of running as a Libertarian. Libertarian Party Chairman Mark Hinkle told Politico Johnson's switch was “the worst …

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