Gary Johnson campaigns in Minnesota
Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson brought his campaign to Minnesota this afternoon.
Johnson is a former Republican governor of New Mexico who joined the Libertarian Party after unsuccessfully seeking the Republican presidential nomination. Speaking at Macalester College to about 150 people he said he'll push to privatize Social Security, abolish the Federal Reserve and repeal the Patriot Act. Johnson also said he'd push for relaxing the nation's drug laws.
"I am the only candidate who wants to end the drug war," Johnson said. "Let's legalize marijuana now."
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Johnson says he'll likely be on the ballot in all 50 states. He dismissed suggestions that he'd be a spoiler candidate for Republican Mitt Romney or President Obama. He suggested that he'll win the race if everyone "wastes their votes and votes for me."
Johnson also took a firm stance on foreign policy. He said the U.S. should not be intervening in the affairs of other countries.
"I call for vacating our embassies right now," Johnson said. "Why make ourselves a target in the Middle East? I think more people are understanding that we have become the symbol of everything that is wrong in the world."
Johnson also worked to distinguish himself from Romney and Obama. He said he's the only candidate in the race that has a favorable rating in their home state.
"In New Mexico, people wave at me with all five fingers not just one," Johnson joked.
Johnson appeared with former Gov. Jesse Ventura. Ventura told the audience that Johnson is the only viable alternative to President Obama and Republican Mitt Romney.
"The more votes that Gary gets, the more scare it's going to put it into the system," Ventura said.
Johnson's visit is a part of a larger tour of college campuses across the country.
You can listen to Johnson's speech here:
You can listen to the brief q and a with the audience here: