Secret Service Could Help Grant Legitimacy to Johnson

by Josh Guckert

As first reported by J. Wilson of A Libertarian Future, Libertarian Gary Johnson could soon be afforded a luxury owed few others. Due to a recent successful fundraising push, the candidate may receive Secret Service protection. The Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, will make the final determination based on a few criteria:

Candidates must:

Be publically announced

Have some degree of prominence as shown by opinion polls

Be actively campaigning and entered in at least 10 state primaries

Be seeking the nomination of a qualified party

Have qualified for matching funds in the amount of at least $100,000

Have received contributions totaling $10 million

According to J. Wilson, Johnson has accomplished all of this except the final contribution requirement. While it is unlikely that he has yet reached $10M, it could come soon enough. It is even possible that the mere potential of this occurrence might prompt the DHS to make the discretionary decision to give Johnson this privilege preemptively.

If the Libertarian nominee is granted Secret Service protection, it provides good aesthetics for the campaign. This visualization as a serious candidate can do more than one might think in persuading Americans that he is a legitimate candidate. With the stigma of third-parties still pervasive throughout the populace, any little help is necessary.

This situation precedes the looming presidential debates, which are another hurdle for Johnson in his quest to accomplish viability and visibility. All of these goals look toward cementing the Libertarian Party as a force in American politics which can compete with Republicans and Democrats.