In his Greensboro News-Record column, Edward Cone offers “an update on Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Mike Munger, described last year in this column as ‘maybe too sane for high office’: North Carolinians put the Libertarian Party on the ballot for November, but Munger still is excluded from the gubernatorial debates. Munger’s party has earned the right to compete with the entrenched duopoly in this marketplace of ideas, but the debate sponsors are ignoring their obligation to the public. Beyond the issue of fairness, it would be entertaining to watch Munger take on the professional politicians; he’s smart, informed and funny, and he’s got nothing to lose.”
Cone continues, “Last week, Munger took his case directly to the people, buying radio ads in the Triangle, Triad and Charlotte markets (sample line: ‘I’m not even asking for your vote yet, I just want a fair chance to compete for it.’) The idea behind the ads is to boost his poll numbers quickly, as the League of Women Voters says it will include him in its debate if he has support from 5 percent of surveyed voters.”