To the Editor:

Recently I heard people speak of three candidates for president: Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton versus Donald Trump.

I’m thinking, instead, of Hillary and Donald vs. Gary Johnson. He’s the former governor of New Mexico. He was re-elected as a Republican in a Democratic state. Unlike Clinton and Trump, he has executive experience.

The advantage of having three candidates on the ballot in all 50 states is that there is no longer an incentive to do negative campaigning.

If Clinton and Trump go at each other, Johnson can just sit back with his hands folded and agree with both of them that they’re both not good candidates. All they’ll be doing is helping Johnson, so no incentive to do that.

Why would he come out of retirement (during which has climbed Everest and the other 6 summits in every continent)? Because the major parties have presented us with such low quality candidates that this year, a Libertarian like Gary Johnson can win. Plus, he has William Weld as his vice president, another two-term governor, Republican in a Democratic state.

How can you help? If you’re presented with a poll that doesn’t include Gary Johnson, ask why, and suggest that he should be included. Even if you don’t plan to vote for him, aren’t more choices better? And if his presence can keep the other two from using negative campaigning, that’s a good thing.

Russell Nelson

Potsdam