Candidates are ramping up their visits to battleground states like Arizona, a historically conservative stronghold that is now thought to be up for grabs.
Republican candidate Donald Trump made his sixth visit to the state this week, and Libertarian Gary Johnson drew thousands to his Phoenix rally.
Johnson is on the ballot in all 50 states but not on the debate stage. He has referred to himself as a “penny pincher,” saying, “I’m pledging as president of the United States to be the most frugal president ever elected.”
He’s also expressed his dissatisfaction with the military’s role abroad.
“I think people are skeptical, and I’m one of them, that when it comes to our military interventions, it has not resulted in a safer world, and specifically military interventions in support of regime change.”
Johnson and running mate Bill Weld are the only two “free market” candidates in the presidential race, he said, and pointed to his experience as a governor of New Mexico, a border state, when talking about immigration.
Calling Trump “all over the board,” Johnson said a possible proposal to deport around 11 million undocumented workers will have a negative impact on both Arizona and New Mexico and would put the U.S. “on the wrong side of history.”
Juan Hernandez, long-time Republican strategist and current adviser for the Johnson-Weld campaign, has worked in politics in both the U.S. and Mexico.
Hernandez referred to what he called insults of the right, and of Trump, toward the Latino community. He also criticized Obama for not giving Latinos “a seat at the table” as well as for his legacy on the deportation of undocumented immigrants.
“You’re not happy with Trump. You’re not happy with Clinton. There is a third option,” he said.
Johnson has not been invited to join Trump and Clinton in a debate. The commission on presidential debates requires that candidates have at least a 15 percent rating in the polls.
Also on Arizona Week, AZPM’s Christopher Conover takes a look at the race in Congressional District 1. One of the largest in the U.S., the district covers much of northeastern Arizona and touches the northernmost part of Pima County. Candidates Paul Babeu and former legislator Tom O’Halleran recently met for a debate in Phoenix.
On the program:
- Gary Johnson, Libertarian presidential candidate
- Juan Hernandez, Republican consultant, adviser to Johnson/Weld campaign
- Paul Babeu, Republican candidate for U.S. House of Representatives
- Tom O’Halleran, Democratic candidate for U.S. House of Representatives
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