Are the days of former Governor Bill Weld leading the Libertarian Party coming to an end?
That could be the case as Bill “I’m here vouching for Mrs. Clinton” Weld is interested in challenging President Donald Trump, either as a Republican in the primaries or as a Libertarian in the general.
Reason has the story, citing multiple outlets:
All of which makes the past week of Boston media coverage that much more eyebrow-raising. On January 23, Boston Herald columnist Joe Battenfeld wrote that Weld “is heading to New Hampshire soon and don’t count him out of the 2020 mix—either as a Libertarian or a Republican.” While Weld didn’t comment, “sources close to him say he’d relish a chance to take on Donald Trump.”
The New York Times on January 26, citing “people who have spoken with him,” reported that Weld “is weighing a challenge to Mr. Trump as a small-government moderate,” and “has discussed either opposing Mr. Trump in the Republican primaries or seeking the Libertarian presidential nomination.”
Then last night WCVB, citing “sources,” reported that Weld “could make an announcement about a possible presidential run as soon as Thursday,” that “he has taken a leave of absence from his law firm,” and that “any possible run would be made as a Republican.”
Weld rejected the stories, but if they are true, then it’s further evidence that he was a terrible pick to head the LP.
One of the stories suggests he could run as a “small-government moderate,” which is far from libertarianism.
If the reports are true, then good riddance. Libertarians need a Ron Paul, not a statist.
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