Libertarian Gary Johnson makes a plea for disappointed Bernie Sanders supporters
Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson says Bernie Sanders supporters can find their alternative candidate in him, not Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.
The former governor of New Mexico said Thursday that he and the Libertarian Party can deliver what former presidential candidate Sanders offered before Sanders lost the Democratic ticket to Clinton.
“We think that about 75% of what we’ve got to say really ties with Bernie Sanders supporters,” Johnson told CNN’s “New Day.”
But although Sanders and Johnson share some ideas, they may not align as well as the 75% he suggested.
Sanders supports a $15 minimum wage; Johnson suggests eliminating federal wage standards altogether, according to the two campaign websites.
Sanders supports expanding funds for Planned Parenthood and a woman’s access to a safe, legal abortion; Johnson believes in a woman’s right to choose, but speaks out against late-term abortion.
On education, Sanders pushed tuition-free school; Johnson suggests eliminating student loans, which he says drive tuition rates, and also eliminating the Department of Education.
And on climate change, Sanders argues for bold action on policies that reduce fossil fuel dependency and push clean energy research; Johnson thinks climate change is “probably” happening, but more government regulation is not the answer.
Sanders, Johnson and Bill Weld, Johnson’s vice presidential running mate, do agree on at least one problem, though — the Democratic and Republican Party establishments continue to fail Americans.
“The two-party monopoly in Washington has gotten to the point where it’s kind of run out of gas and it’s even bad for the country,” Weld said on CNN.
Johnson and Weld need to move up in polls to at least 15% in order to win a spot in the general election debates. Their ticket currently sits at about 10% as of Thursday.
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