Libertarian Gary Johnson Launches Presidential Bid

Libertarian politician Gary Johnson is running for president a second time after winning more than a million votes in 2012.

Johnson announced his candidacy for the Libertarian Party nomination Wednesday at the New Mexico state capitol in Santa Fe.

The two-time New Mexico governor and pioneering proponent of drug decriminalization wants to wipe out the federal deficit and hold the line against spending on Medicare, Medicaid and the military.

Johnson says he could wind up sharing the debate stage with Democratic and Republican nominees in the fall if a Libertarian Party lawsuit against the Federal Election Commission is successful.

Johnson initially ran as a Republican in 2012 before dropping out ahead of the primaries and securing the Libertarian nomination.

He won nearly 1.3 million votes, or 1 percent votes cast.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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