Reason.com Blog|March 26, 2008
I've asked for comment on Mike Gravel's tentative Libertarian Party run for president from the campaigns of George Phillies, Steve Kubby, and Wayne Allyn Root, and I'm posting their statements here.
From George Phillies:
I am delighted to welcome Senator Gravel to the Libertarian party. I have met him before. In 2006, Gravel appeared at the LPNH State convention. As the two Presidential candidates in attendance, he and I presented against each other for delegate support from the LPNH. I won the delegate. I look forward to debating Senator Gravel again.
It is highly problematic for someone to jump parties and immediately be given the Presidential nomination. We welcome converts to the choir; we don't make them Chief Deacon. Some of Gravel's core positions, e.g., universal single-payer health care, simply are not Libertarian. There is no way to sell those stands to Libertarian convention delegates. Correspondingly, Gravel has no way to win the Libertarian Presidential nomination.
