The Libertarian Party nominated party activist Chase Oliver for president on Sunday, rejecting former Presidents Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after they each spoke at the party’s convention.
Third-party parties have rarely been competitive in U.S. presidential elections, and the Libertarian candidate won 1 percent of the vote four years ago. But the party’s decision is getting more attention this year because of the rematch between Trump and Democratic President Joe Biden, which could still hinge on slim vote margins in a handful of contested states.
“We did it! I am officially the presidential candidate,” Oliver posted Sunday on X, formerly Twitter. “It’s time to unite and step forward for freedom.”
Trump appeared in Washington at the convention Saturday night to deliver a speech that was repeatedly booed by many in the room. It hasn’t paid off with the support he sought, even though his Republican allies praised him Sunday for choosing to run in front of a hostile crowd.
Kennedy received a friendlier reception when he spoke Friday and attacked Trump and Biden for how they addressed the COVID-19 pandemic. He had expressed support for the Libertarians and support could have helped him speed up the process of getting to the ballot in all 50 states, perhaps the biggest obstacle he faces in qualifying for the first presidential debate held in June by CNN.
Libertarians prioritize small government and individual freedoms, with a mix of policy positions that could be considered liberal, conservative, or neither.
Oliver is an Atlanta activist who previously ran for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives from Georgia. His campaign website calls for deep cuts to the federal budget to balance the budget, abolish the death penalty, close all overseas military bases, and end support military to Israel and Ukraine.
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News Source : www.nbcnews.com
