With openly gay Republican Fred Karger’s campaign failing to gain traction, the only viable presidential candidate that supports full marriage equality for gay citizens is the former New Mexico governor, Gary Johnson. Governor Johnson has recently announced that he will no longer seek the Republican nomination and instead will run as a Libertarian Party candidate in 2012 with plans to be on the ballot in all 50 states. The move has political pundits wondering just how much of the LGBT vote will Governor Johnson manage to siphon away from President Obama (President Obama continues to refuse to support marriage equality).

Johnson has garnered heavy praise from gay rights activists such as Dan Choi, who said of Governor Johnson, “I am not in the habit of endorsing candidates and I no longer belong to any party, but I hold Governor Johnson in highest regards and think he would be an amazing president.” Even rival Republican competitor Fred Karger had nothing but good things to say about Johnson, “I am a huge Gary Johnson fan and consider him a friend, but I am staying in the Republican Party and will fight for change from within.” For his part, Johnson seems well aware that his support of full equality could drain support away from Obama. “I’m the only one advocating for marriage equality,” Johnson said. “If I were gay, that would really be an important issue for me. I may well take more votes from Obama because of gay rights,” but also “because of the war, because of the war on drugs, you can really go down the list.” Governor Johnson supports the decriminalization of marijuana and opposes the continued military involvement in Afghanistan.

A candidate that supports full marriage equality and the decriminalization of marijuana?! Now that is a presidential candidate I could vote for! (via The Daily Caller)