Gary Johnson tosses hat in White House ring for 2016

Libertarian Party’s Gary Johnson said Republicans may take over Capitol Hill, but his eyes are on the White House: He’s running in 2016.

And his party platform is already shaping as the counter to Sen. Rand Paul, whom he described as only half-right on issues of importance to libertarian-minded voters, Reason reported.

“On half the issues, he’s right, but on the whole social issue thing … Look, libertarians are flaming liberals when it comes to social issues, when it comes to civil liberties,” Mr. Johnson said, Reason reported. “A woman’s right to choose, drug reform, immigration, marriage equality. He’s not there.”

Mr. Johnson, a former New Mexico governor, said in an interview with Newsmax that he has numerous reasons to run for the high executive office.

“The whole election is a big yawn,” he said in the Newsmax report. “Who cares who wins because nothing’s really going to change. It’s like a debate between Coke and Pepsi. They’re debating over which one tastes better. … Where’s the libertarian viewpoint?”

Mr. Johnson, who previously ran for the Libertarian Party presidential ticket and pulled in about 1.3 million votes — about 1 percent of the overall total — made his intent to run again on Election Day, Reason reported.