Libertarian VP nominee William Weld makes an unexpectedly strong pitch for Hillary Clinton


William Weld, the former Republican governor of Massachusetts and current Libertarian Party vice presidential nominee, is voting for himself and his running mate, Gary Johnson, this year, but on Tuesday night's Rachel Maddow Show he more or less gave Libertarian-leaning voters in key swing states the green light to vote for Hillary Clinton.
Maddow kicked things off by asking Weld if his and Johnson's goal at this point isn't really just hitting the 5 percent threshold. "In the real world, that's probably correct," Weld said. "That would give federal matching funds, it would mean no more ballot access woes. You know, we thought for the longest time we might have a chance to run the table because we're such nice guys and centrist party, etcetera, but not getting into the debates really sort of foreclosed that option. So now it is the 5 percent, you're right."
Maddow asked Weld if he believed voters in the swing states that will decide this election — Ohio, North Carolina, Florida — should vote Libertarian, given his strong opposition to Donald Trump. He said he thinks "on the merits we have the best ticket," but "I fear for the country if Mr. Trump should be elected." For anyone deciding not to tempt fate by voting Libertarian in key swing states, "I have a lot to say about Mrs. Clinton that has not been said by others recently and I think needs to be said," Weld added. "I mean, I've known her for 40 years, I've worked with her, I know her well professionally, I know her well personally, I know her to be a person of high moral character, a reliable person, and an honest person, however much Mr. Trump may rant and rave to the contrary. So I'm happy to say that and people can make their own choices."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Maddow appeared a little confused. "Do you honestly believe that Gary Johnson would be a better president than Hillary Clinton?" she asked. "I think he'd be capable of being a good chief executive and yes, a commander in chief, Aleppo to the contrary notwithstanding," Weld said, laughing. "He was a strong governor. You know, I believe in the platform of the Libertarian Party," he said, and wants to see it have "a seat at the table" in Washington, but there's a "massive difference between the two establishment party candidates." Watch below. Peter Weber
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
The week's best photos
In Pictures A volcano stirs, a deathly flower blooms, and more
-
Andy Goldsworthy: Fifty Years – a 'beautiful and raw' exhibition
The Week Recommends This superb career retrospective in Edinburgh brings together more than 200 works from the misunderstood artist
-
Merryn Somerset Webb chooses five books on how the world works
The Week Recommends The financial columnist picks works by Peter Turchin, Adam Smith and Christopher Clark
-
ICE scraps age limits amid hiring push
Speed Read Anyone 18 or older can now apply to be an ICE agent
-
Trump's global tariffs take effect, with new additions
Speed Read Tariffs on more than 90 US trading partners went into effect, escalating the global trade war
-
House committee subpoenas Epstein files
Speed Read The House Oversight Committee has issued a subpoena to the Justice Department for its Jeffrey Epstein files with an Aug. 19 deadline
-
India rejects Trump threat over Russian oil
Speed Read The president said he would raise tariffs on India for buying and selling Russian oil
-
NY's Hochul vows response to Texas gerrymander
Speed Read Gov. Kathy Hochul has promised to play ball with redistricting that favors the Democrats
-
Texas Democrats exit state to block redistricting vote
Speed Read More than 51 legislators fled the state in protest of the GOP's plan to redraw congressional districts
-
Trump criticized for firing BLS chief after jobs report
Speed Read Bureau of Labor Statistics chief Erika McEntarfer oversaw a July jobs report that the president claims was rigged
-
Trump revives K-12 Presidential Fitness Test
Speed Read The Obama administration phased the test out in 2012, replacing it with a program focused on overall health rather than standardized benchmarks