Gary Johnson May Get To Participate In Fox News/Google Debate [UPDATE: He's In]

UPDATE 9/21/11, 10:25am: Johnson is now confirming his participation.

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For a while now, we've been documenting the travails of the Frozen Out Foursome -- Gary Johnson, Fred Karger, Thad McCotter, and Buddy Roemer -- all of whom can lay claim to substantive Republican bona fides (that is, they've played a larger role in GOP politics than, say, quixotic birther candidate Andy Martin), but who remain excluded from the televised GOP debates. Well, there's some good news -- maybe! -- for one of them. Howard Kurtz says that former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson has gained entry to the upcoming Fox News/Google debate, scheduled for this Thursday night:

Johnson will be included in Thursday's Fox News debate in Orlando, the first time he will share a stage with his eight rivals.

The former New Mexico governor won the right to participate, according to Fox sources, by cracking 1 percent in the latest five national polls in which he was included—Fox News, CNN, McClatchy-Marist, ABC, and Quinnipiac—which was the criterion the network had set for inclusion.

Of course, this won't be Johnson's first time at a debate. He appeared onstage at the very first debate of the campaign cycle back on May 5. That was also a Fox News debate, cosponsored by the South Carolina Republican Party. And if you recall, back in May, there weren't a lot of credible candidates to be had. In addition to Johnson, the May 5th debate featured Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul. Since then, Pawlenty has dropped out and the only one of those candidates who's managed to carve out a place in the double-digits is Paul.

Of course, this is still a "maybe," apparently. Sometime after Kurtz's piece went live, Slate's Dave Weigel reported on Twitter, "FWIW, Gary Johnson spox tells me they're still waiting on final word re: debate." So, it's not yet a done deal.

In other debate exclusion news, Fred Karger has also requested access to the Fox debate, citing the fact that he has cracked 1% in seven polls. Unfortunately, the seven polls cited (GFK Poll August 26th, McClatchy-Marist Poll August 10th, Synovate Poll August 8th, Harris Poll August 4th, Zogby Poll July 25th, Zogby Poll May 23rd, Fox News Poll April 28th) don't help him with the criteria established for this debate: Fox is only interested in the latest results garnered by five polling organizations -- Fox News, CNN, McClatchy-Marist, ABC, and Quinnipiac.

This is somewhat problematic for Karger -- CNN doesn't even include him in its most recent poll. Neither do Quinnipiac or ABC News.

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Comments

[rsaillant1]

07:53 AM on 10/01/2011

Jason, do you have any pull at HuffPo?

How about an edit of the SPECULATRON photo?

Santorum is out and Palin was never in, so let's
think about a new photo....

[pericoisbored]

10:07 AM on 09/22/2011

"And if you recall, back in May, there weren't a lot of credible candidates to be had." Apparently not much has changed since May.

[ljewellrob1]

10:18 PM on 09/21/2011

I am so happy to hear he will finally be in another debate. Gary Johnson is my candidate. He is so different from the typical politicians we have to chose from. Finally... a down to earth, smart man who I truly think will put the interests of the USA before his own ego. He did a great job as governor of NM and really turned the state around. It is about time the media gave him the recognition he deserves!

[ron10]

06:04 AM on 09/23/2011

i agree just learned of him last nite did some research and this guy looks like the real deal yet he gets no air time look at his record this is the guy government needs

[Nic Wilson]

12:39 PM on 10/18/2011

I completely agree. I'm not sure why the media thinks/does they can filter who the public sees. Although You may not be a Ron Paul fan (as I am ), but I am glad he is getting recognition and I feel any Ron Paul supporter should also be supportive Gary johnson and the other canidates to at least get enough coverage for the american people to get to know them. Going forward as Ron Paul will be too old (assuming he doesnt get elected in 2012) to run in 2016 I will be a proud Gary Johnson 2016 supporter

[Binea]

09:31 PM on 09/21/2011

let the public vet them thoroughly

[rtaylor1974]

04:07 PM on 09/21/2011

He should do well on this one as long as he sticks to the facts regarding his career , and doesnt get into any knit picking by the other candidates...

[Gestas]

03:48 PM on 09/21/2011

The FOX plan is simple..The More Merrier...Spread the Stupid around..

[Nelson Montana]

03:47 PM on 09/21/2011

Time to brush up on bad hair jokes.

[Shain Eighmey]

04:40 PM on 09/21/2011

It beats needing to brush up on jokes about insanity.

[Nelson Montana]

09:21 AM on 09/22/2011

It's not as sad as your inability to recognize irony. It must be a sad existence to feel superior and be so witless.

[mislz7]

03:30 PM on 09/21/2011

Huffington Post devotes time to this guy when Ron Paul wins California GOP straw poll by overwhelming margin and doesn't even get mentioned? Ron Paul in 2012!

[eddw88]

05:09 PM on 09/21/2011

LOL!

[Binea]

09:11 PM on 09/21/2011

HELLO...This guy was treated exactly the way they treated Ron Paul last election.I worry he may take votes from Paul,but,I dispise the media manipulation.They need to allow us to see and hear them all ! How can they ever get known,if media keeps shutting them out ?
BTW.."govenor" Gary Johnson,had same results or better,I forget than THREE others that WERE allowed into CNBC and CNN Did allow into thier debates..it's unfair and a manipulation ( he happens to be another ANTI war candidate) sound familiar ?

[ron10]

06:07 AM on 09/23/2011

the rich and the media dont want you to know about this guy

[Sean 6399]

03:29 PM on 09/21/2011

Johnson is a quality candidate who should have a strong appeal with libertarian teabagger types. The libertarian wing of the GOP may not have the numbers to lead the party but they are a significant faction and deserve to have some voice in the party's agenda. At least, the GOP leadership should give the libertarians some voice if they hope to have their votes in the general election.

[Binea]

09:14 PM on 09/21/2011

I hope Ron Paul wins the nomination and maybe chooses Gov Gary Johnson as his VP..I'd trust his judgement on that,but..he sounds as if they'd mesh well..I'm not opposed to a Ron Paul/Kucinich eigther lol..maybe a Howard Dean,I need to look into him more

[rascalcat]

03:19 PM on 09/21/2011

I hope so. He, Huntsman, and Romer say what they think regardless of how the RW base feels about it. Of course, they have no chance, but today's GOP has made me value centrist R's that can and do think outside the box. I would encourage all to join the D's where they could, at some time, be elected.

[Binea]

09:18 PM on 09/21/2011

today's GOP is mostly NEOCON mostly corp owned and MOSTLy Untrustworthy..there is not ONE of them I trust..except Ron Paul,but then,he's no Neocon
They do not want more of his kind showing up on the TV screens..The conservative libertarian GOP is where most of us are ,in truth..at least those who are awake,and not bloodthirsty,greedy,dominions( new word I learned this week) did I use it right ?

[Shain Eighmey]

03:16 PM on 09/21/2011

I'm very happy to hear that he's being allowed on the big stage. So far, he has emerged as my favorite person for the Republican nomination, and I can't wait to see how he performs in the debate! Provided that it is an actual debate...

[rascalcat]

03:21 PM on 09/21/2011

Buddy Romer would be a good addition as well. Did you know that he refuses to take any donations over $100.00 and is very anti-lobbyist.

[eddw88]

05:11 PM on 09/21/2011

So, that make him anti-republican. Why would they invite him to the party. republicans are about doing what I say, not what I do.

[Binea]

09:19 PM on 09/21/2011

Ron Paul is my guy,a long record to prove himself..But I do like Gary Johnsons ideas for a new way of taxing,and want to hear more from him..and most importantly he's NOT a neocon

[GayGrandpa]

02:46 PM on 09/21/2011

GOOD, I am very interested in hearing Gary Johnson's views!

[pocketnunu]

02:23 PM on 09/21/2011

I'm up for more candidates, especially if Gary Johnson is socially liberal and fiscally conservative. Johnson's problem is he has not addressed himself to the right establishment GOP types, presented himself as more electable than anyone else. The TP will try to shun him and keep him to the sidelines. Anyone from NM out there who can shed more light on this guy? Any terrible baggage, scandals, cronyism, etc.?

[Shain Eighmey]

03:17 PM on 09/21/2011

I did some asking around a while ago and nothing significant was mentioned by anyone. He appears to have been a relatively boring and effective Governor, which is far from a bad thing.

[Binea]

09:24 PM on 09/21/2011

we can hold a challenge..to get to know him.Like my Ron paul challenge..offer $ 500.00 or whatever you can afford to anyone who can find PROOF without smere,half truths,etc on him.
BTW here is my Ron paul challenge ..if interested..can do something simular for Gary Johnson..we can go around the media in this way,and VET them ourselves ! ( I finally convinced hubby to take off the Beck link,can't stand Glen Beck, anymore

http://undercurrentaffairs.com/whois/ronpaul.htm

[amaboss52]

01:28 PM on 09/21/2011

I say let all the monkeys up on stage, we can watch them throw shitateachother.

[AndyMartin]

12:48 PM on 09/21/2011

I wish all of my primary opponents good luck. But I have the only coherent national campaign operating below the national media. I am the only candidate of the “top 13” that has been advertising for months in New Hampshire. I am proposing that the “second division” candidates organize and conduct their own debates. My guess is that Gary Johnson will get locked out of the debate because nine candidates becomes too unwieldy. Andy Martin www.AndyMartinforPresident.com

[Binea]

09:26 PM on 09/21/2011

read my idea above you..if you have the money,you can advertise the challenge in newspapers,craigslist anywhere you can think of..and let the Public VET you,(instead of media,if they even acknowledge you exist)