Gary Johnson Embraces His "Spoiler" Role

The electoral machinery needs a monkey wrench

Gary Johnson was governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003. He made a name for himself by vetoing 750 bills that didn't meet his standards for thrift.

Before that, Johnson made a fortune in construction, starting as a solo Albuquerque handyman in 1974 and selling his 1,000-employee company, Big J Enterprises, for $10 million in 1999. Johnson likes to ski, hike and cycle. He has completed 75 triathlons and climbed Mount Everest while healing from a broken leg. Also, he is running for president.

While Representative Ron Paul of Texas carried the libertarian flame all the way to the Republican convention this summer, it's Johnson, not Paul, who's on the ballot as the Libertarian candidate in 47 states—and making his case in courts to get on in the remaining three, Bloomberg Businessweek reports in its Sept. 24 issue.