The Gary Johnson Social Media Charge

image
Published: 12 Sep, 2012
Updated: 17 Oct, 2022
3 min read
Credit: commons.wikimedia.org

Governor Gary Johnson’s recent Reddit AMA (Ask Me Anything), demonstrates how his use of social media is effective in gaining support. As the Libertarian candidate for President, money for the campaign is hard to come by. Holding social media events and engaging supporters is a strong-point for the two-term New Mexico governor and will probably drive his campaign through the year.

Governor Johnson is a heavy user of Google Plus. With social media tools intertwined, he also promoted the AMA through Twitter and Google Plus. He is consistent on posting and sharing on Google's social networking site. In his recent campaign stops during the Democratic National Convention, he uploaded personal pictures. He spoke at Winthrop University in South Carolina and posted this during his speech:

Credit: Gary Johnson

I asked Natalie Dicou, the Johnson campaign's media relations specialist, about the effectiveness of Johnson's activity on Google Plus. She responded:

We are obviously active on a number of social media outlets, and have found Google+ to be outstanding.  Our followers are very active, and it has a great reach.  We depend upon it heavily to communicate with our supporters.

Social media lends itself well to third-party candidates looking for grassroots organization. It’s not just the candidates themselves gathering support through social media. Supporters play a large role in the spreading the message, Gov. Johnson recognizes this and advocates it. When asked on how his supporters can get him to 15% in polls to enter debates, he answered with, “BLOG BLOG BLOG”. Another Redditor asked what they can do to ensure his message is heard this election, he replied, “BLOG AWAY”.

Continuing with the grassroots theme, someone acknowledged that an obstacle for the Johnson campaign is that voters don’t know who he is. The question that followed was on the best way to organize a local rally. Gov. Johnson answered, “blogging and social media”.

Gov. Johnson responded through e-mail about his experience with Reddit and the AMA:

Today's AMA was great.  I always enjoy opportunities to interact directly with folks online, and Reddit is an excellent platform for doing so.

When asked how he would work with Congress to pass his policy proposals if he was President of the United States,  Governor Johnson replied:

IVP Donate

I'm kind of excited about the prospect of coming at Democrats hard from the left, and coming at Republicans hard from the right. Challenge them both to be good at what they are supposed to be good at.

The Ask Me Anything event took place on Tuesday, September 11th at 3pm ET. IVN's Jane Susskind compiled the questions that Governor Johnson decided to answer on a live blog from the AMA.

As a third-party candidate, funding is not a strength when running a campaign. Social media is a means of cost-effective campaigning where potential voters have a chance to interact directly with politicians. Accounts on social media websites are free, but are only as effective as the account owner. Gov. Johnson's current social media attraction:

Google Plus followers: 1,045,242

Twitter followers: 58,985

Facebook followers: 240,873

As of July 31st, the Johnson campaign raised $1,482,993 and spent $1,468,728, taken from opensecrets.org. In the same time frame, President Barack Obama raised and spent Johnson's amount around 300 fold. Republican candidate Mitt Romney was at about 200 fold Johnson's amount. The Gary Johnson social media campaign will aim to grow and hopes to peak at the right time.

Latest articles

CA capitol building dome with flags.
Why is CA Senator Mike McGuire Trying to Kill the Legal Cannabis Industry?
California’s legal cannabis industry is under mounting pressure, and in early June, state lawmakers and the governor appeared poised to help. A bill to freeze the state’s cannabis excise tax at 15% sailed through the State Assembly with a unanimous 74-0 vote. The governor’s office backed the plan. And legal cannabis businesses, still struggling to compete with unregulated sellers and mounting operating costs, saw a glimmer of hope....
03 Jul, 2025
-
7 min read
I voted buttons
After First RCV Election, Charlottesville Voters Back the Reform: 'They Get It, They Like It, They Want to Do It Again'
A new survey out of Charlottesville, Virginia, shows overwhelming support for ranked choice voting (RCV) following the city’s first use of the system in its June Democratic primary for City Council. Conducted one week after the election, the results found that nearly 90% of respondents support continued use of RCV....
03 Jul, 2025
-
3 min read
Crowd in Time Square.
NYC Exit Survey: 96% of Voters Understood Their Ranked Choice Ballots
An exit poll conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of the nonprofit better elections group FairVote finds that ranked choice voting (RCV) continues to be supported by a vast majority of voters who find it simple, fair, and easy to use. The findings come in the wake of the city’s third use of RCV in its June 2025 primary elections....
01 Jul, 2025
-
6 min read