The Rise of Gary Johnson « The Washington Independent

Jonathan Martin takes the measure of libertarians’ enthusiasm for Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico — he left office in 2003 — who has edged back into politics after a long stint as, in the words he used when I last spoke to him, a “businessman and adventurer.” I think Martin is right about how much hope libertarians have for Johnson, but he might under-rate Johnson’s credibility with supporters of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). He gave one of the best-received speeches at the Rally for the Republic, the Paul rally held across town from the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minneapolis. Video of his speech is below the jump.

Next to Rand Paul, the congressman’s son who is running strong for a U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky, Johnson might be the best-liked politician among Paul supporters — e specially now that Gov. Mark Sanford’s (R-S.C.) career has been shredded by a sex scandal.