Story highlights Gary Johnson says he's optimistic about participating in the debates in the fall

Libertarian and Green Party draw "equally from both sides"

(CNN) Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson said Wednesday that his party and the Green Party do not cancel each other out.

"We're drawing pretty much equally from both sides," he told CNN's Don Lemon on "CNN Tonight." "I see that going all the way to the election."

On Wednesday, CNN hosted a town hall with Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and her running mate, Ajamu Baraka. Stein defended her third-party candidacy against the logic that a vote for her would be a waste and would ultimately help elect Donald Trump.

"The unique thing about the Green Party is that we are the one national party that is not corrupted by corporate money, by lobbyist money or by Super PACs," Stein said. "We have the unique ability to actually stand up for what it is that the American people want, what everyday people want."

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