Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnsonwill visit spots in Tampa and Dunedin on Friday as part of his longshot campaign. <\/p>\n
Johnson, 59, the former two-term New Mexico governor, isplanning a luncheon\/meet-and-greet at Gaspar's Grotto, 1805 E 7th Ave., in Tampa from 12:30-2 p.m. <\/p>\n
Later, in Dunedin, he will throw out the first pitch at the Dunedin Blue Jays game and then head to a reception at Blur and the Chic-A-Boom Room (319 Main Street). <\/p>\n
Johnson last came to Tampa Bay in December to drum up support for his failed bid to win the Republican nomination. He was excluded from most GOP debates. <\/p>\n
\"The Republican National Committee has turned their backs on a message that appeals more and more to the American public,\" he said in a Tampa Bay Times interview then. <\/p>\n
His platform includes immediately ordering troops home from Afghanistan; creating an easy work-visa program; cutting the Department of Education and IRS; and replacing the current tax system with a 23-percent fair tax on consumption. He supports abortion rights, gay marriage and legalizing marijuana. <\/p>\n
One zanycampaign adposted Mondaypaints a grim picture of the new health care law before switching to rock-and-roll music and asking, \"Want government the hell out of healthcare? Baby, I'm with you. And I'm running for president.\" <\/p>\n
Johnson'sFriday visit will cap a week of stops in Jacksonville, Orlando, Deerfield Beach and Boca Raton. <\/p>\n
Photo by Times staff photographer Jim Damaske, 2011 <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson coming to Tampa Bay on Friday<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Libertarian Party presidential candidate Gary Johnsonwill visit spots in Tampa and Dunedin on Friday as part of his longshot campaign. Johnson, 59, the former two-term New Mexico governor, isplanning a luncheon\/meet-and-greet at Gaspar's Grotto, 1805 E 7th Ave., in Tampa from 12:30-2 p.m. Continue reading