Elections

‘The Terminator’ wants Libertarian Gary Johnson in debates

By William Douglas

wdouglas@mcclatchydc.com

September 10, 2016 11:32 AM

FILE - In this May 18, 2016 file photo, Libertarian presidential candidate, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson speaks with legislators at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. The day after political heavyweight Mitt Romney name-dropped him on Twitter, the former New Mexico governor seemed to reveal a hole in his foreign-affairs knowledge when he was befuddled by an otherwise routine question about the Syrian city of Aleppo.
FILE - In this May 18, 2016 file photo, Libertarian presidential candidate, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson speaks with legislators at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. The day after political heavyweight Mitt Romney name-dropped him on Twitter, the former New Mexico governor seemed to reveal a hole in his foreign-affairs knowledge when he was befuddled by an otherwise routine question about the Syrian city of Aleppo. Rick Bowmer AP
FILE - In this May 18, 2016 file photo, Libertarian presidential candidate, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson speaks with legislators at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City. The day after political heavyweight Mitt Romney name-dropped him on Twitter, the former New Mexico governor seemed to reveal a hole in his foreign-affairs knowledge when he was befuddled by an otherwise routine question about the Syrian city of Aleppo. Rick Bowmer AP
WASHINGTON

"The Terminator" thinks Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnson should be included in the upcoming presidential debates.

Johnson’s campaign Friday touted a Facebook post by former California Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger calling on the Commission on Presidential Debates to include Johnson, a former GOP governor of New Mexico, and running mate William Weld, a former Massachusetts Republican governor, in the presidential and vice presidential debates.

“...I hope the Commission on Presidential Debates will listen to the people and include the Governors,” Schwarzenegger wrote.

The Facebook post and tweet by the star of "The Terminator" move franchise followed a supportive tweet on Johnson’s behalf by Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican presidential candidate and a former Massachusetts governor.

Johnson needs to reach 15 percent in an average of polls to gain a debate spot. He was at 9 percent Saturday in Real Clear Politics’ poll average in a four-way match-up against Democrat Hillary Clinton, Republican Donald Trump and Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

The plugs from Schwarzenegger and Romney may prove timely as Johnson deals with some political fallout from stumbling on a question about the war-torn Syrian city of Aleppo during an interview Thursday on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe."

"I take complete responsibility. I'm running for president of the United States," Johnson told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer Friday. "Look, I should have known what he was talking about."

William Douglas: 202-383-6026, @williamgdouglas

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