Don't forget Gary Johnson as a third party candidate

Of all the possible third party candidacies that Michael Shear suggested in his blog post today only two seem likely to actually take the plunge: Lexington's own Jill Stein and Louisiana's Buddy Roemer.

His suggestion of former comptroller general David Walker is very intriguing but he has such limited name recognition that it is hard to see how he would have an impact.

DAVID WALKER: Perhaps the least known of the bunch, Mr. Walker served as the comptroller general of the United States for a decade, from 1998 to 2008, and was the subject of a column by The New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman earlier this month. Mr. Friedman argued that he would make a good independent candidate.

“After months of nutty, gravity-free Republican primary debates, how great would it be to have presidential debates in which a smart independent like Walker was in the middle to challenge both sides and offer sensible solutions?” Mr. Friedman wrote.

Mr. Walker hinted at the possibility that he might run in a statement that he put out — conveniently on the anniversary of the announcement by Mr. Perot of his own candidacy.
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For some reason Shear left out the likely Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson. The former New Mexico governor could give the LP its strongest ticket since Harry Browne ran in 1996. If Ron Paul is not involved in the Republican Party's general election efforts his supporters could bolt for Johnson and make him a serious third party challenger.