Gary Johnson to Participate in South Carolina Presidential Debate

Former Gov. Gary Johnson made the cut for the first major debate of the 2012 presidential campaign.

However, many of the biggest names in the potential field of GOP presidential candidates – including Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich -  won’t be there. Despite that, Johnson’s inclusion is important for his campaign since many Americans don’t know who he is, or only know him for his drug stance.

Johnson, a maverick Republican who announced his presidential campaign in New Hampshire last month, sent a message to supporters today to announce that he will be on stage for Thursday’s the “first-in-the-south” Republican presidential debate.

Johnson said Fox News will televise the debate at 7 p.m. mountain time from Greenville, S.C. He also said he’d make an appearance on Sean Hannity immediately following the debate.