ORLANDO, FL - SEPTEMBER 22: Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson speaks in the Fox News/Google GOP Debate at the Orange County Convention Center on September 22, 2011 in Orlando, Florida. The debate featured the nine Republican candidates two days before the Florida straw poll. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Photo: Mark Wilson/2011 Getty Images
Say goodbye and hello to Gary Johnson, who will announce on December 28 in Santa Fe that he’s dropping out of the Republican primary race to seek the Libertarian Party nomination. Johnson took a page out of Rick Santorum’s playbook for this one, making an announcement of a forthcoming announcement. Libertarian Party Chairman Mark Hinkle called Johnson’s move “the worst kept secret.” The former New Mexico governor will switch his voter registration to Libertarian at the presser, and in May 2012 he will have to compete for the nomination at the Libertarian Party’s convention in Las Vegas.
