NEW CUMBERLAND - Like his own beliefs about the role of government, John Buckley's Libertarian campaign for the U.S. Senate is small and limited.

But he's betting that his chances of election in November will grow as more people endorse his ideas about shrinking the federal government.

"We take the red, we take the blue - the best of it - marry them together, and we've got Libertarian purple. That's what I'm trying to promote in the campaign," Buckley said during a recent campaign stop in Hancock County. "People who want less government need to have an option on the ballot. I'm the only one representing that option."

John Buckley, Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate, takes a break from campaigning last week at the New Cumberland Municipal Building. -- Stephen Huba

Buckley, 61, of Mathias, W.Va., is running as an insurgent, third party candidate in the campaign to fill the Senate seat being vacated by longtime Sen. John D. "Jay" Rockefeller IV.

Whether his campaign is taken seriously by the news media, whether it catches fire with the voters, whether he and other third party candidates get to participate in a televised debate on Oct. 7 - all that remains to be seen.

He admits he's fighting an uphill battle against the Republican candidate, U.S. Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, and the Democratic candidate, Secretary of State Natalie Tennant.

But Buckley takes the political realities of running a statewide campaign in 2014 in stride because he's involved in politics as much for the ideas as for the chances of winning.

"I enjoy the discussion of political ideas and philosophy," he said.

As a Libertarian, Buckley is an unpredictable amalgam of positions on the hot-button issues of the day. He's pro-life, pro-gun rights, pro-gay marriage and pro-marijuana legalization.

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Libertarian seeking Rockefeller's seat visits