ATLANTA | When the Libertarian Party was looking to draft someone for the small party's gubernatorial nomination, Andrew Hunt is as experienced in working wonders with small things as anyone.

He earned 50 patents and two decades ago founded a 20-person nano-technology company that provides films, powders and other products for manufacturers. This newspaper page is 100,000 nanometers thick, and he's accustomed to producing films only 10 nanometers thick. So, he may feel right at home in a campaign for governor that appears just as small.

He's up against the sitting governor, Republican Nathan Deal, who has already raised more than $8 million and has all the advantages of incumbency, and Jason Carter, the grandson of a U.S. president who's already garnered more than $1 million with the national contacts to attract more. Hunt hopes to raise $300,000, which would be more than 10 times what the last Libertarian raised.

And don't expect the nascent political party to provide endless volunteers, professional advice or other resources.

"A lot of the responsibility falls on the candidate," said John Monds, the party's gubernatorial nominee four years ago. "... I think most Libertarian candidates go into any race knowing that the likelihood of winning is really remote. The key is really just bringing the message to as many people as you can ... to talk about the issues that are being left on the table by the other parties."

He adds, "Success isn't always winning the election."

Timing could play a role in whatever success is, according to Allen Buckley, who was the Libertarian nominee for lieutenant governor and for the U.S. Senate in the past.

"I think there is a tremendous opening for a reasonably smaller government party," he said.

The success of Ron Paul's presidential campaign in attracting young adults has carried over to his son Sen. Rand Paul and a handful of other so-called Liberty Movement members of Congress. Although they are all Republicans, they have given voice to voters who want the government to stay out of their business, their lives and their pocketbooks -- essentially fiscally conservative and socially progressive with little interest in adventurous foreign policy.

That's the philosophy of the Libertarian Party, and the challenge of candidates like Hunt is to let enough people know.

"The Libertarian Party, I believe, has the heart of the majority of the people," he said.

Hunt has some innovative proposals. He wants to save money on prisons by no longer locking up people convicted of "victimless crimes" like possession of marijuana. He would also effectively do away with the Department of Economic Development because he feels it's wrong to give more attention, tax breaks, employee training or other benefits to any one company over another.

Instead, to boost job creation he proposes having the state reimburse all employers for the employment taxes they pay because of federal laws, such as social security and unemployment insurance. He's stops short at picking up their penalty for not providing health insurance even though he acknowledges the Supreme Court ruled it was a tax.

Traffic congestion could be eased by hiring a company to synchronize traffic lights across local jurisdictions, and private companies should take over failing public schools, turning them into charter schools and turning out the weak educators. He would lower healthcare costs by requiring a doctor to certify all claims.

"I have 50 patents to my name, so I'm a very innovative person," he said.

On the two hot-button issues of this year's campaign, Medicaid expansion and the Common Core school standards, Hunt takes the middle course, promising to accept both but to put a Georgia stamp on them that would improve them. For specifics, he replies that he'll offer a detailed plan in another month.

"I purposely label myself a moderate Libertarian," he said.

The father of five who drives a Ford hybrid promoted someone else to run his company so he can campaign full time.

"I'm not in here just to get 5 percent," he said.

As Deal and Carter crank up their attacks of each other, Hunt may begin to look good in comparison.

Follow Walter Jones on Twitter @MorrisNews and Facebook or contact him at walter.jones@morris.com.