The Libertarian Action Super PAC (LASPAC) posted the following on its blog:
In a nationwide poll of 1,000 likely voters, 24% of respondents said they would vote for Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson.
Likely voters were asked, “Suppose in this year’s Presidential Election you had a choice of Libertarian Gary Johnson or Democrat Barack Obama. If the election were held today would you vote for Libertarian Gary Johnson or Democrat Barack Obama?”
24% Johnson
45% Obama
27% Some other candidate
3% Not sure
This is what it sounded like:
This national telephone survey of 1,000 likely voters was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research on August 8, 2012. Pulse Opinion Research, LLC is an independent public opinion research firm using automated polling methodology and procedures licensed from Rasmussen Reports, LLC. The poll was conducted on behalf of Libertarian Action Super PAC.
Pulse Opinion Research has handled public opinion polls for organizations such as Rasmussen Reports and The Hill newspaper.
View the poll cover letter.
View the poll results.
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has said that its threshold for getting into their debates is 15%. According to this poll, Libertarian Gary Johnson easily passes that test.
Some observers believe that two-candidate polls can produce biased results if there are more than two candidates running. However, the Commission on Presidential Debates apparently uses two-candidate polls when deciding whom to allow in its televised debates. (Those polls only include the Democratic and Republican candidates.)
The LASPAC poll follows the pattern of two-candidate polls conducted by other polling organizations. For example, Gallup conducted this two-candidate (Democratic & Republican only) presidential poll recently:
Pew Research Center conducted (see Question 10):
Conclusions:
* The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) can’t have it both ways. If two-candidate polls are acceptable, then this poll should count toward the inclusion of Gary Johnson. If two-candidate polls are not acceptable, then CPD must not consider any two-candidate polls from other polling firms. Any other choice would demonstrate partisan bias on the part of CPD. (As a 501(c)(3) organization, CPD is not permitted to show partisan bias when making its selections.)
* A large percentage of voters are clearly willing to consider Libertarian Gary Johnson as an option. His name should be included in all presidential polls.
To help us conduct more polls, please contribute here and write “poll” in the comment box.
{Why do} “300 million Americans have {only} 2 choices for president? Can you imagine having 2 colors to pick for your car? Red or Blue. No silver, or black w/ chrome rims. No racing yellow or hunter green. Nope – 2 colors, red or blue. The 2 party system has failed us. Our corrupt corporate propaganda media has failed us. You cannot give 300 million people 2 choices & expect change. They feign fighting on TV while they sleep together at night. We need a 3rd, 4th, 5th choice to fairly represent us” -shwantz2 on youtube
Derek @ 8 You are CORRECT. Always include all Candidates with Ballot access to a minimum of 270 EC Votes.
@9 Thanks. I hope everyone will take your advice.
However friends it’s a rigged FRAUD to exclude any competition to the Duopoly Kleptocracy that runs this country! They can’t allow Gov. Johnson and/or Dr. Stein on that stage.
“There is no such thing, at this date of the world’s history, in America, as an independent press. You know it and I know it. There is not one of you who dares to write your honest opinions, and if you did, you know beforehand that it would never appear in print. I am paid weekly for keeping my honest opinion out of the paper I am connected with. Others of you are paid similar weekly salaries for similar things, and any of you who would be so foolish as to write honest opinions would be out on the streets looking for another job. If I allowed my honest opinions to appear in one issue of my paper, before twenty-four hours my occupation would be gone. The business of the journalists is to destroy the truth; to lie outright; to pervert; to vilify; to fawn at the feet of mammon, and to sell his country and his race for his daily bread. You know it and I know it, and what folly is this toasting an independent press? We are the tools and vassals of rich men behind the scenes. We are the jumping jacks, they pull the strings and we dance. Our talents, our possibilities, and our lives are all the property of other men. We are intellectual prostitutes.” – John Swinton, former New York Times Chief of Staff
Contact Janet Brown with the Commission of Pres. Debates at 202-872-1020 or [email protected] call and email often. 🙂
Get all candidates that are on either 33 states or enough states to win an electoral college majority to be included in all debates.
Shane Wittig put up a nice Examiner article here:
http://www.examiner.com/article/libertarian-presidential-candidate-gary-johnson-receives-24-nationwide-poll
[mbelleville, in case you were wondering, I realize Examiner is not the same as the New York Times or Washington Post.
see WaPo gimmick:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/reliable-source/2010/12/quoted_libertarians_defend_wes.html ]
Thanks, LASPAC. The point has unequivocably been made.
CPD is a giant fraud of a dog and pony show.
@3-The reason this poll was done was to show the Commission on Presidential Debates just how silly their rules are. We all know this isn’t a two-person race.
This poll seems more accurate than the last on LASPAC did. The last one had Obama at 65%. There can’t possibly be that many people that will vote for him.
Silly poll. It isn’t a two way race. There is Obama, Romney, Stein, Johnson, and a slew of additional third party candidates. This poll will do nothing to help the case of including Johnson in the debates. And I say that as someone who wants to see both Stein and Johnson included.
“some other candidate” scored higher than Johnson and Obama score almost 20 points higher. Silly meaningless poll. Focus on getting included in recognized polls and pulling 15%. Tricks and gimmicks are futile
Get him into the debates then!
Gary Johnson is moving up!