The conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board, typically a champion of Republicans, is flirting with the Libertarian Party this election.
On Tuesday, the paper weighed in on former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, Libertarian Party presidential nominee, and said his candidacy may serve as a “safe space” for voters turned off by Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
“Third-party presidential candidates are usually gadflies who have little impact, and that includes the nominees of the Libertarian Party over the years,” said the Journal, which has been highly critical of Trump, who has enough delegates to clinch the GOP nomination. “But if there’s going to be an exception, this might be the year given how flawed and widely disliked Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are.”
The paper said Johnson would offer policy alternatives to Trump and Clinton, but acknowledged that his campaign would likely be a bust.
“Mr. Johnson isn’t likely to win a state, but he can still play a useful role by reminding the major party candidates that they aren’t the only choices,” the Journal said. “Mr. Trump seems to think he can say whatever he wants because millions of voters are repelled by Mrs. Clinton. The Libertarians give these voters an honorable alternative if Mr. Trump makes himself unacceptable.”
