Gary Johnson scores at 4% in CNN/ORC poll against Obama and Romney, radio ads debut
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Four percent may not represent a big number but in a close race for the presidency it could tip the balance and with a radio campaign just beginning, the Gary Johnson campaign says the number could rise.
“That’s a very good showing, considering the poll was conducted before a single ad buy has been placed,” Johnson spokesman Joe Hunter told Capitol Report New Mexico on Friday (Sept. 14) of a CNN/ORC national poll showing Johnson receiving 4 percent among registered voters. President Obama received 50 percent, Republican nominee Mitt Romney 41 percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein 2 percent.
Gary Johnson, Libertarian Party candidate for president
The CNN/ORC poll mirrors that of another national poll conducted more than a week ago when a JZ Analytics survey that included Johnson’s name showed the former two-term governor of New Mexico receiving 4.3 percent approval.
“The key is that once Gov. Johnson is included in the [national] polls, that momentum will only build on that,” Hunter said.
After the poll was released, Johnson told a reporter from CNN, “It is one thing if it gets reported that I am at 4% nationally, but I don’t think I go down when people take a look at who I am and what I have done, I think it actually goes up.”
But 4 percent is still a long way from 15 percent, which is the threshold that third-party candidates have to reach to gain entry to the presidential debates. With the first debate scheduled in just 17 days (Oct. 3 in Denver), Johnson’s goal of getting on the stage with Obama and Romney is becoming more and more remote.
At the same time, the Johnson campaign just released a series of 1-minute radio advertisements.
“The plan is to increase the buys between now and election day,” Hunter said, although he would not disclose specifics about the radio buys, including listing the markets where they are appearing and how much is being spent. In Albuquerque, 60-second spots for Johnson are running in regular rotation at KKOB, the news-talk station located in New Mexico’s largest city.
Last week, the Albuquerque Journal released a statewide poll of the presidential race showing Johnson receiving 7 percent support, with Obama at 45 percent and Romney at 40.
Johnson has made an open appeal to supporters of Ron Paul, the Republican congressman with libertarian values but Rep. Paul has not endorsed Johnson.
After speaking after speaking Friday in Chantilly, Virginia, Paul was asked if he thought Johnson was an acceptable choice for his fans.
“Might be, I tell people to look at his record and he certainly has a lot of libertarian views,” Paul said. “They should make up their own mind.”
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Johnson is trying to get on the ballot in all 50 states. According to the Libertarian Party website, Johnson has qualified in 47, although that number appears to have increased to 48 on Friday after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, in a 2-1 decision, ruled that 9,000 signatures to put Johnson on the state’s election day ballot were valid.
In Oklahoma, however, the Oklahoma Libertarian Party announced on that “Our writ and injunction were rejected yesterday (Friday, 14 September) by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.”
Johnson is also battling to get on the ballot in Michigan.
Posted under Capitol Report.
Tags: Albuquerque Journal, Capitol Report New Mexico, CNN/ORC, Gary Johnson, JZ Analytics, KKOB, Libertarian Party, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Ron Paul
11:00 pm on September 16th, 2012
Gary Johnson is a breath of fresh air in this stifling Presidential campaign. Johnson is our clear choice to restore America to peace, prosperity and liberty. Live free.
7:59 am on September 17th, 2012
Obama and Romney have forsaken the American Dream. A declaration is an affirmation. Independence means self-government. They could have called The Declaration of Independence, The Affirmation of Self-Government!
Gary Johnson and Judge Jim Gray are the only choice to Save the American Dream: Self-Government, freedom from big government tyranny and oppression…. and to Restore Justice, the guardian of Liberty!
Obama and Romney agree on the issues, that gives us no choice. What’s to debate!
10:00 am on September 17th, 2012
It’s shameful how CNN waits until mere weeks before the election to include these 3rd party candidates in their “polls.” Also, check out the debate committee rules: R’s and D’s have the right to exclude any 3rd party candidates from the “debate” even if those candidates meet all the requirements.
10:44 am on September 17th, 2012
The Commission for Presidential debates needs to be “Occupied” if they do not allow at least Jill Stein (G) and Gary Johnson (L) into the presidential debate with Romney/Obama.
Commission for Presidential debates contact info: CONTACT JANET BROWN (jb@debates.org and/or call 202-872-1020).
1200 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W. • Suite 445 • Washington, D.C. 20036 • (202) 872-1020 • Fax (202) 783-5923.
The 99%, OWS, TEA groups need to make their presence known at this Address and demand inclusion of the Green Party and Libertarian Party candidates in the Presidential debate.
If you want to learn about the fraud perpetrated by the Commission, watch this video documentary by PBS.
7:15 pm on September 17th, 2012
The commission is fully capable of adopting some sort of waiver if they wished to have Gary Johnson or anyone else participate.
I have to believe they obviously don’t want that. Why? It’s anyone’s guess. Should they? Yes. It might improve their credibility.
From my perspective the debates could be a travesty. I would rather see more media coverage of the non-puppet candidates, especially Gary Johnson.
The media has the resources and the duty to inform the public in an unbiased manner. I am thrilled when I see articles such as this. It makes me think there is hope!
Thank you Rob Nikolewski