Gary Johnson, whose Libertarian presidential bid has already spooked Republicans, might get a few Democratic voters as well thanks to his support for a sleeper issue in Florida: medical marijuana. <\/p>\n
Johnson is expected to endorse the current effort to put a Constitutional Amendment to legalize medicinal marijuana on the Florida ballot in 2014, said Johnsons Florida political advisor, Roger Stone, a one-time GOP operative who lives in Miami Beach. <\/p>\n
The marijuana proposal faces a series of tough challenges in Florida. And so does Johnson. <\/p>\n
As a third-party candidate, the little-known former Republican governor of New Mexico doesnt have the name recognition or major financial support that Republican Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama enjoy. <\/p>\n
Johnsons campaign says the system is rigged against other parties. He filed a federal lawsuit this week that claimed the Federal Election Commission owes the campaign $747,115.34 in public campaign-financing money. <\/p>\n
The FEC declined to comment. <\/p>\n
In August, the FEC reported that it had awarded Johnsons campaign a total of $303,751.20. The Democratic and Republican parties each received $18,248,300 for their conventions. The two major party candidates are entitled to as much as $92,241,400, Johnsons suit says. <\/p>\n
Johnson has fought or is fighting Republicans with legal challenges to get on the ballot in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Michigan and Oklahoma. He also is suing to get into the presidential debates. The first is scheduled for next Wednesday, Oct. 3. <\/p>\n
Mirroring Johnsons uphill struggle: The People United for Medical Marijuana committee, called PUFMM, a largely liberal group. It has raised $40,628 and spent $33,470 since 2009 to get medical marijuana on the Florida ballot. It needs 676,811 valid voter signatures but has collected just 100,000 so far, said PUFMMs Florida Chairwoman Kim Russell. <\/p>\n
If the measure makes the ballot, it would then face the daunting requirement that it pass with 60 percent of the vote. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson backs Florida ballot drive to legalize medicinal marijuana<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Gary Johnson, whose Libertarian presidential bid has already spooked Republicans, might get a few Democratic voters as well thanks to his support for a sleeper issue in Florida: medical marijuana. Johnson is expected to endorse the current effort to put a Constitutional Amendment to legalize medicinal marijuana on the Florida ballot in 2014, said Johnsons Florida political advisor, Roger Stone, a one-time GOP operative who lives in Miami Beach. Continue reading