by Javier Manjarres

Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson was on the ballot in Florida and racked up 45,900 votes. Some Republicans has feared that the right-leaning Johnson would pick up Ron Paul voters in the Sunshine State that would otherwise go to Romney in a skin-tight race with Obama for Florida’s electoral votes, but it didn’t happen. Ron Paul got 151,000 in the Florida GOP Primary while Johnson only scored about a third of that. The misperceived closeness of the race persuaded many who preferred Johnson to vote for Romney in Florida.

Johnson fought his way on to the ballot in 48 states–an incredible feat that proves the election of a third party candidate is at least feasible.  Johnson gained 1.2 million votes nationwide and actually scored better in Colorado where he took 2% of the vote. He took 1 % in Oregon and Washington, and 3% in New Mexico. Johnson told the Libertarian publication Reason that he would probably not run in 2016 and speculation for the parties 2016 nomination is focused on two former Judges- Judge Andrew Napolitano, who is the outspoken Libertarian FOX legal analyst and Judge Jim Gray, who was Johnson’s Vice Presidential running mate and has proven to be a dogged and durable campaigner for the ticket.

The Florida Libertarian Party which has 39,000 registered members in Florida  was happy with their showing and vowed to field a candidate for Governor of Florida in 2014. “We will field a strong candidate for Governor who supports the legalization of medicinal marijuana and cutting state spending,” said Miami-Dade County Libertarian Party Chairwoman Diane Thorne.  “Rick Scott and Charlie Crist will be in a 3-way race,” she said.

SHARKTANK contributor ROGER STONE supported Johnson and talked to FOX about the two party monopoly on the debate and ballot access process as well as the purported media bias against third Parties.

“Now I know what Teddy Roosevelt felt like when he became a Bull Moose,” Stone told FOX. (Link)