Gary Johnson wins Prez. nomination

KRQE TV

Updated: May 6, 2012 12:01 PM

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) — "Where do we go from here? This is about winning. This is about winning," said Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson as he accepted his party's nomination at the Libertarian Party Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Party delegates voted him as their top pick for the white house.

It is a big step for the Johnson campaign, but according to political analyst Joe Monahan, it's a long road ahead.

"People don't like to vote for a person who's not going to win," said Monahan.

He adds most Libertarian Party candidates, like Johnson, get 1 percent of the national vote come election time.

Don't expect Johnson to be part of any of those big political debates, either. Appearances are driven by poll numbers and his chief opponents, President Barack Obama and likely Republican nominee Mitt Romney, are eating up all the attention.

Monahan says the most press Johnson will get around the country is here at home.

"Johnson has an important role to play in determining who wins New Mexico," said Monahan.

The two-term former Governor still has a good number of fans in New Mexico. The so-called "Johnson effect" could do some damage.

"This is not something that the Romney campaign in New Mexico is happy to see today. But those popping the champagne corks are over at Obama headquarters, because this helps them if Johnson puts up a fight here," said Monahan.

Analysts say if New Mexico was to become a swing state, then Johnson could be in the national lime light again.

Johnson secured the Libertarian nomination rather easily, winning 74 percent of the vote at Saturday's convention. Party delegates had to go through six rounds of voting to pick a nominee for the 2008 Presidential election.

Johnson is known for his criticism on the "War on Drugs", as well as being fiscally conservative. At the convention, he chose former California judge Jim Gray as his running mate.

The Libertarian Party has about 250,000 registered voters nationwide.

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