“…at its gathering in Orlando on Sunday, the party ensured it would be relevant in November by nominating two serious candidates, including former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld, who accepted the vice-presidential nod. Third-party and independent candidates always face an uphill fight, but a unique circumstance this year means that Weld and Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson of New Mexico deserve real consideration.
The circumstance, of course, is Donald Trump. The presumptive Republican nominee is the least qualified major-party candidate for president in generations. And while Trump hasn’t yet selected a running mate, any Republican who would choose to run alongside him can safely be assumed to have very poor judgment.
Johnson and Weld both served as Republican governors, giving them significantly more elective experience than Trump. Weld’s record in Massachusetts may not be spotless, but he appears statesman-like in the context of the Republican campaign thus far. As for the Libertarian Party itself, its platform combines some fringey ideas, including total drug legalization, with a reasonable emphasis on limiting government power.
For disillusioned Republicans, then, the Libertarian Party and candidates represent credible alternatives to Trump’s GOP.
Boston Globe Editorial @ https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2016/05/31/editorial-libertarians-johnson-and-weld-offer-credible-alternative-trump/t86Er3cYrVMh9bXGYZ1awJ/story.html