Johnson and his running-mate Bill Weld released a full-page ad in the form of an open letter in Wednesday’s New York Times, which directed the Commission on Presidential Debates to allow the Libertarian nominee to debate on September 26 even if he falls short of 15 percent, Politico reports.
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Green Party candidate Jill Stein also set a record for her party by locking in ballot spots in 44 states.
This puts him just shy of the 15% that he needs in order to participate in the Clinton versus Trump televised debate scheduled for FOXNews for September 26, 2016.
It’s official – Gary Johnson and Jill Stein failed to make the cut for the first presidential debate.
Johnson will be joined by his vice-presidential running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, as well as former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic and comedian Drew Carey, the co-owner of the Seattle Sounders.
Candidates must meet selection criteria established by the Commission of Presidential Debates (CPD), a non-profit organization that says its mission is to “provide the best possible information to viewers and listeners”. Johnson released a statement following the news that expressed his disappointment and vowed to be on the stage at the next debate in October. Johnson cites polling data that find 62 percent of those queried said they support his inclusion in the debate.
Both campaigns have railed against the commission’s criteria, saying that it unfairly limited voters’ options in an election cycle where the two major-party nominees are both historically disliked.
Both Stein and Johnson have been outspoken about wanting to be included in the presidential debates.
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The board had earlier said it would exclude candidates who did not get 15 percent support in polls. This compares to national averages of nearly 42 percent for Clinton and almost 40 percent for Trump. “It should be noted that, when [Ross] Perot was allowed on the stage, polls showed his support to be in single digits, below where Johnson and Weld are now polling” he said.
