Hello Richard,   
      
   >MM>If Libertarians get 5% they can qualify for matching funds.   
      
   >LL>Declared 2012 Libertarian candidates for President -   
      
   >LL> * Roger Gary   
   >LL> * R. J. Harris   
   >LL> * Gary Johnson   
   >LL> * Carl Person   
   >LL> * R. Lee Wrights   
      
   RW>I've liked Gary Johnson since he was a governor.  I could   
   RW>pull the lever for him.   
      
   Then you should do so, as he is a declared presidential candidate.   
      
   >LL>Elections are not about qualifying for matching funds.   
   >LL>Elections are about winning.   
      
   RW>Right, but that federal funding might help, even though, as   
   RW>staunch libertarians any candidate who accepts it is   
   RW>compromising his own stated principles.   
      
   With the amount of donations that are raised (and spent) by   
   presidential candidates today, federal funding amounts to nothing.   
   I doubt that any major presidential candidate will bother accepting   
   federal funds.  At least in the general election.  As such, how can   
   candidates who choose to run as an independent or third party expect   
   to compete with the nominees of the two major political parties?   
      
   We desperately need real campaign reform.  Not the mockery of   
   what passes as campaign reform today.  Too many loopholes exist,   
   created intentionally by politicians of both political parties.   
      
   Create a level playing field for *all* candidates from *all*   
   political parties (not limited to the Democratic Party and the   
   Republican Party), especially in regards to general elections.   
      
   But we all know that won't happen.   
      
   --Lee   
      
      
    * SLMR 2.1a * The honkies are all gathered at Office Depot.   
      
   --- Maximus 3.01   
    * Origin: Xaragmata / Adelaide SA telnet://xaragmata.mooo.com (3:800/432)