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New Mexico’s Gary Johnson is expected to become the first presidential nominee Saturday, headed to general election ballots around the country as the Libertarian Party candidate.
Democrats and Republicans won’t get around to their formal nominations of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney until this summer. Johnson is expected to win the Libertarian nomination at the party’s national convention this week in Las Vegas, Nev.
Johnson switched from seeking the Republican nomination earlier this year. He thinks he will benefit as the Libertarian candidate as libertarian-minded GOP candidate Ron Paul fades in the GOP contest.
Johnson also believes that he will win more fans away from the Obama camp than from the Romney following, mostly because of his views on civil liberties.
- John Robertson; jrobertson@abqjournal.com
Taxpayer Tab: A White House spokesman familiar with first lady Michelle Obama’s fundraising trip to New Mexico on Tuesday clarified what portions of the trip will be paid for by taxpayers.
When the first lady travels to raise money for President Barack Obama’s re-election, campaign funds pay for staff coordinating the fundraising event and all event-related expenses, such as renting banquet space and catering food, White House spokesman Eric Schultz said.
A Federal Elections Commission formula is used to determine how much the campaign pays for the military jet that flew Obama and her staff on her swing through Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico this week.
However, Schultz said, Secret Service security teams required to travel with the first lady for her protection are taxpayer-funded and have been in previous administrations.
State Republicans questioned Obama’s use of taxpayer dollars on her political fundraising trip Tuesday.
- James Monteleone; jmonteleone@abqjournal.comJohnson Likely To Get Libertarian Nod
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal
