Garrett Quinn on Gary Johnson's Campaign to Get 1 Percent of the Vote

Since its inception in 1972 the Libertarian Party (L.P.) has participated in 10 presidential elections, cracking the single-digit threshold just that once (with a scant 1.06 percent). Popular libertarian movement figures such as Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) in 1988 and investment guru Harry Browne in 1996 and 2000 never managed to take even 0.5 percent of the popular vote. Paul was the last L.P. candidate to finish as high as third place; Ralph Nader has outpolled the party's nominee in every election after 1992.

In the cover story from Reason's December issue, which hit newsstands before the November election, Garrett Quinn reports on Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson's quest to finally break the 1 percent barrier this year.