Hyra excluded from 1st Virginia governor's debate

First Gubernatorial Debate Does Not Include Libertarian Candidate | WVTF - Michael Pope, Virginia Public Radio:

July 24, 2017 - "The first of three debates for governor is scheduled for this weekend, when Democrat Ralph Northam will square off with Republican Ed Gillespie at the Homestead Resort in Hot Springs. But there’s one candidate who’s not invited to the party.

"Libertarian candidate Cliff Hyra spent months collecting signatures of voters to get on the ballot statewide. Last month, the Virginia Department of Elections said he qualified to be on the ballot in every jurisdiction in Virginia. But when voters are confronted with his name they might not know anything about him. That’s because debate organizers of the three debates for governor have not invited him to participate....

"The last Libertarian candidate for governor, Robert Sarvis, says that’s not fair to voters. 'It’s basically undermining the ability of the people to hear different ideas and to see everybody who’s going to be on their ballot. When there’s only three people who are going to be on the ballot, there’s no argument for keeping people out.'

"The bar association policy for who gets to be part of the debate says candidates must be 'significant' to participate, which they define as someone who does well in polling, has raised a significant amount of money and attracted a fair amount of media coverage. The policy doesn’t include any specific numbers for polling or fundraising, leaving it to the judgment of the organizers....

Read more: http://wvtf.org/post/first-gubernatorial-debate-does-not-include-libertarian-candidate
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Sarvis endorses Gary Johnson for LP nomination

Robert Sarvis endorses Gary Johnson for president | Independent Political Report - Krzysztof Lesiak:

April 1, 2016 - "Robert Sarvis, the record-setting Libertarian statewide vote-getter today endorsed fmr. New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson for the Libertarian Party’s (LP) presidential nomination. The endorsement was released via a post on Sarvis’ Facebook page.

"Sarvis earned record-setting mainstream media coverage and vote-totals for governor of Virginia, 2013’s nationally-watched statewide election. (Sarvis won 146,084 votes, or 6.52% .)

"The vote Gov. Johnson earned in 2012 as the LP’s presidential candidate also set a Libertarian Party record for the highest popular vote won in the party’s electoral history.

"In making his endorsement, Sarvis cited Johnson’s experience as a two-term fiscally responsible governor of New Mexico, and his ability to earn wide mainstream media coverage, through which he can reach and win the votes of libertarian-leaning Americans. Sarvis said....

"This year presents the LP with the rarest of opportunities — conditions are both favorable and grand. Presidential elections demand the utmost excellence in a nominee, because the scrutiny is withering and the stakes are so high.

"Only Gary Johnson has the resume, the experience, and the credibility to combine with our party’s inspiring message of peace, prosperity, and freedom.

"He has a fundamentally libertarian outlook and a track record of furthering libertarian goals in office. He has a realistic and likeable approach to politics that attracts open-minded voters to a libertarian message. And he has the kind of credibility that cannot be bought or faked, that can only be earned through admirable personal and professional achievements.

"It has nothing to do with 92% v. 95% agreement on libertarian bona fides — all our candidates are pretty darned libertarian. But we Libertarians must pick our battles wisely. And our nominee must proselytize for freedom to non-Libertarians, speaking their language, not ours, and attracting them on their terms, not ours.

"When I look at the field of candidates seeking the Libertarian nomination, only one stands head and shoulders above the rest, and that’s Gary Johnson."

Read more: http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2016/04/robert-sarvis-endorses-gary-johnson-for-president/#comments
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Robert Sarvis denies "Democratic plant" rumors

Libertarian Sarvis denies being in cahoots with Democrats - Roanoke Times: Politics - Marcus Schmidt, Richmond Times-Dispatch: 

September 30, 2014 -  "Libertarian Robert Sarvis, the only third-party candidate on the ballot in Virginia’s U.S. Senate race, vehemently denies allegations that his Senate campaign and his 2013 gubernatorial bid were meant to help Democrats defeat Republican candidates.

"'It’s just an absurd claim and just a way to scare people,' Sarvis said in an interview Tuesday with editors and reporters at the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

"The rumors date to a story posted by the conservative blog The Blaze shortly before Election Day last year, when Sarvis ran for governor against Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Ken Cuccinelli....

"The blog said that Texas-based software billionaire Joe Liemandt was the major benefactor to the Libertarian Booster PAC, which had contributed $11,454 to Sarvis’ campaign to pay for signature collection, yard signs and campaign materials....

"But in 2012, ABC News reported that Liemandt had also contributed between $100,000 and $200,000 for President Barack Obama’s re-election bid.

"But Sarvis on Tuesday denied that Democrats were actively backing his last campaign and are behind his Senate bid, hoping that his participation in the race will weaken support for Republican Ed Gillespie, who wants to defeat Sen. Mark Warner.

"'We can put the truth out there, but we still get a lot of responses from conservatives who claim that I was a Democratic plant and that I am again this year,' he said. 'The most you can do is to say, well, it’s not true.'

"Wes Benedict, executive director of the Libertarian National Committee and founder of the Libertarian Booster PAC, also denied allegations that his PAC only supported Sarvis’ gubernatorial bid as a tool of moneyed Democratic Party interests."

Read more: http://www.roanoke.com/news/politics/libertarian-sarvis-denies-being-in-cahoots-with-democrats/article_c378acdf-992b-5fec-87a5-1127685381f1.html
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Virginia Libertarians sue over ballot placement

Libertarian Sarvis sues elections board over ballot placement - Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia News:

July 3, 2014 - "Robert C. Sarvis, the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate, several of the party’s congressional candidates and an independent have filed a federal lawsuit against the Virginia State Board of Elections.

"They are asking the court to strike down Virginia’s law requiring Democrat and Republican candidates to be given the two top spots on ballots.

"In the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that the law violates the First and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution by favoring the election chances of Democrat and Republican candidates at the expense of Libertarian Party and independent candidates. The Rutherford Institute, a conservative nonprofit legal organization, filed the suit Wednesday with the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia."

"The complaint says that while it is obvious that, in any given election, some candidate must be listed first, and some candidate listed last, “an electoral system that is designed to ensure that a specific class of candidates always has a ballot position more favorable than other classes of candidates is inherently unconstitutional.”

Read more: http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/libertarian-sarvis-sues-elections-board-over-ballot-placement/article_06deb89e-02cc-11e4-b105-001a4bcf6878.html
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Sarvis on Senate ballot, excluded from 1st debate

Va. Libertarian makes Senate ballot but blocked from debate - Bill Bartel, Virginian-Pilot:

June 26, 2014 - "Libertarian Party candidate Robert Sarvis has earned a spot on the U.S. Senate ballot this fall, but organizers of the first debate said he’s not invited to join the two major party contenders when they face off next month.

"A Virginia State Board of Elections official said Thursday that Sarvis has been certified to be on the Nov. 4 ballot along with U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Ed Gillespie.

"However, the Virginia Bar Association, which is hosting the first debate July 26 at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., has determined that only Warner and Gillespie will be permitted to participate....

"Sarvis, 37, encountered similar debate exclusions last year when he ran unsuccessfully for governor. He garnered 146,084 votes - 6.5 percent of those cast - compared to 47.7 percent for the winner, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, and 45.2 percent for Republican challenger Ken Cuccinelli.

"Sarvis, a Fairfax County native, has been a software engineer, mobile-ap developer and lawyer. He holds degrees from Harvard University, George Mason University and NYU law school."

Read more: http://hamptonroads.com/2014/06/va-libertarian-makes-us-senate-ballot-blocked-debate

Sarvis plans to run for Senate seat in Virginia

Sarvis plans to challenge Warner for Senate seat - Richmond Times-Dispatch: Virginia News - Markus E. Schmidt:

January 30, 2014 - "Robert Sarvis, the 2013 Libertarian candidate for governor, said Wednesday that he wants to run for U.S. Senate, challenging Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Va.

"'I finally got the go-ahead from my wife and told the Libertarian Party folks that I am going to run,' Sarvis said in an interview.

"In 2013, Sarvis was vastly outspent by the two major-party candidates but managed to get 6.5 percent of the vote.

"Libertarians will nominate their candidate at a party convention in Richmond on Feb. 8. So far, Sarvis, a former software engineer, teacher, lawyer and new media entrepreneur from Northern Virginia, is the only Libertarian who has announced a Senate bid.

"Sarvis said he will run on a similar platform as last year, including small government, a reduction of spending, legalization of marijuana and allowing same-sex couples to marry."

Read more: http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/libertarian-sarvis-plans-u-s-senate-bid-against-warner/article_7e30e378-8913-11e3-a614-0017a43b2370.html
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What Makes Libertarians Run?

What Makes Libertarians Run? - George J. Dance, Nolan Chart:

November 16, 2013 - "[I]n the recently-concluded governor’s race for Virginia ... a Democrat beat a Republican by a mere 1% of the vote.... But that wasn’t the only story: In the same election, Robert Sarvis, a little-known candidate with a campaign budget of just $200,000, won more than 6% of the vote. Never before has any Libertarian candidate for governor of Virgina - even Bill Redpath, National Director of the Libertarian Party at the time he ran - ever received as much as 1% of the vote. Until now, 6% for a Libertarian in that state was simply inconceivable.

"This is not the only ‘personal best’ that Libertarians have achieved recently. Last year, for instance, Gary Johnson received more than a million votes: the first time, in the Libertarian Party’s 40-year existence, that its presidential candidate has passed that benchmark. While that was still a small fraction of the vote (less than 1%), other Libertarians - such as Dan Cox, senatorial candidate in Montana - scored, like Sarvis, in the high single digits.

"Those signs of progress ... have led to attacks on the Libertarian Party, and even to advice/demands for it to disband. Sarvis’s best-ever showing has begun to prompt similar reactions."

Read more: http://www.nolanchart.com/article10590-what-makes-libertarians-run.html
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Ben Jacobs: Democrat was 2nd choice of most VA Libertarian voters

Libertarian Robert Sarvis Drew Record High Votes in Virginia - The Daily Beast - Ben Jacobs:

November 8, 2013 - "For the guy who finished third in the Virginia governor’s race, Robert Sarvis had a pretty good night on Tuesday. Sarvis was the Libertarian candidate in the election who pulled in just over 6.5% of the vote. This wasn’t just a landmark achievement for a third party candidate in Virginia but in the entire American South.... As Richard Winger of Ballot Access News told the Daily Beast, no third party gubernatorial candidate in the South has performed this well in over forty years....

"Sarvis received attention throughout the campaign, not just on election night. He polled above 10% through much of the fall and even received a newspaper endorsement.. Although he wasn’t included in any of the debates, he ran television ads and was considered a possible spoiler throughout the campaign. Republican Ken Cuccinelli was so worried about Sarvis that he focused his strategy in the final days of the campaign on appealing to wavering libertarians. In fact, Cuccinelli’s final rally was headlined by Ron Paul in an attempt to appeal to these voters....

"The question, which was heavily debated before, during and after the election was where Sarvis pulled his supporters from and whether his campaign drew more votes away from Democratic governor-elect Terry McAuliffe or from the socially conservative Republican, Cuccinelli. Based on the crosstabs of a CNN exit poll, it appears that statewide, Sarvis voters leaned toward McAuliffe as their second choice. However there was a lot of regional variation."

Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/11/08/libertarian-robert-sarvis-drew-record-high-votes-in-virginia.html
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Libertarian Robert Sarvis takes 6.5% in Virgina

Libertarians’ silver lining in Virginia - Sean Sullivan, The Fix, Washington Post blogs:

November 6, 2013 - "Libertarian Party candidate Robert Sarvis was never going to win the Virginia governor’s race. But he did better than most others in his party who’ve run for the top job around the country, the latest bit of encouraging news for advocates of the libertarian political philosophy, who have found increasing traction in recent elections.

"Sarvis finished a distant third on Tuesday, winning just 6.55 percent of the vote. Not enough to get his party future ballot access.... But stacked up against past Libertarian candidates for governor, Sarvis’s performance all of a sudden doesn’t look so bad.

"A University of Minnesota Smart Politics analysis found that his share of the vote was good enough for third all-time best among Libertarian candidates for governor and the best in a decade....

"The conventional wisdom is that it is a bad development for Republicans, the thinking being that Libertarian candidates are siphoning votes away from Republicans more than Democrats. But exit polls indicate Democrat Terry McAuliffe still would have won without Sarvis in the picture, pre-election polls suggested Sarvis wasn’t tipping the scales heavily in favor of either candidate."

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/11/06/libertarians-silver-lining-in-virginia/
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Danville (VA) Register & Bee endorses Libertarian for governor

Libertarian Robert Sarvis for Virginia governor - Danville Register & Bee, GoDanRiver.com:

November 3, 2013 - "[T]he Danville Register & Bee has — for the first time ever — endorsed a Libertarian candidate for public office.

"Our endorsement of Robert Sarvis for governor was in some ways a process of elimination that stemmed from a failure of the Republican and Democratic parties to nominate candidates that we could support — and the voters could have confidence in. This year, the two parties have played a cynical game of 'the lesser of two evils.'

"But a political endorsement has to be about more than just voting for a candidate who is marginally better than the other guy....

"In this year’s gubernatorial race, which candidate is the lesser of two evils?

"The fact that we’re asking that question this late in the campaign means that the two-party system has failed to produce a clear favorite for those voters who look not for the party label, but instead want candidates that will inspire, impress and lead them....

"Robert Sarvis offers a real alternative this year, a break from the two-party paradigm that has not served us well."

Read more: http://www.godanriver.com/opinion/editorials/article_e41f8c70-4345-11e3-83eb-0019bb30f31a.html

Sarvis is not a Libertarian: National Review

Sarvis a Libertarian? Nope | National Review Online - Charles C.W. Cooke:

October 31, 2013 - "I can only imagine ... that the better-informed voters in Virginia have been somewhat perplexed by Robert Sarvis.... In a recent Reason interview, Sarvis explained that he was 'not into the whole Austrian type, strongly libertarian economics,' preferring 'more mainstream economics' instead. The candidate expanded on this during an oddly defensive interview with MSNBC’s Chuck Todd, in which he ... told Todd, he would be hesitant to cut taxes, unsure as to how he might 'reduce spending,' and open to indulging the largest piece of federal social policy since 1965 by expanding Virginia’s Medicaid program....

"Looking through his platform, one is left with the impression that what Sarvis really means to say is that he is a social liberal. He is in favor of gay marriage, is (radically) pro-choice, and supports the legalization of marijuana. In this regard, he stands in stark contrast to the Republican candidate, Ken Cuccinelli....

"Cuccinelli has an A rating from the National Rifle Association; he has promised to cut the state’s income-tax rate by a stunning '15 percent for individuals and 33 percent for corporations'; he was against expanding the death penalty when the state GOP wished to make it part of their platform; he fought hard against the smoking ban; he has been a strong and active foe of Obamacare from the start; and he staunchly opposes the Medicaid expansion that further expands the power of the federal government. For these positions, he has been endorsed by both Ron and Rand Paul."

Read more: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/362690/sarvis-libertarian-nope-charles-c-w-cooke/page/0/1
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Ken Cuccinelli courts libertarian vote in VA

Ken Cuccinelli’s Libertarian Love Affair - The Daily Beast - Ben Jacobs:

October 31, 2012 - "Can the anti-sodomy candidate be the standard bearer for libertarians?

"Ken Cuccinelli sure hopes so.

"The Republican nominee for Virginia governor — who tried and failed to reinstate a ban on oral and anal sex in his home state — has been doggedly courting the party of individual liberty in a last-minute attempt to save his candidacy.

"Cuccinelli’s campaign has been lagging in the polls, with the latest Washington Post/Abt SRBI poll putting him at 39% among likely voters compared to 51% for Democrat Terry McAuliffe and 8% for Libertarian candidate Robert Sarvis. Those voters won’t propel Sarvis to the statehouse — but they could make a big difference for Cuccinelli, if only he can win them over. His bet: Virginia libertarians might not like his social conservatism, but it’s got to be preferable to McAuliffe’s big-government zeal for Obamacare.

"So he’s been touting the endorsement of free market hero Rep. Ron Paul, and at a campaign stop in Fairfax Monday, he was accompanied by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).... There were some confessed libertarians in the group. Jason Bowles of Fairfax, an earnest unshaven 28-year-old wearing a blazer, insisted that 'the real libertarian running is Ken Cuccinelli.' He thought Cuccinelli’s strong opposition to Obamacare made him the clear choice."

Read more: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/10/31/ken-cuccinelli-s-libertarian-love-affair.html
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Ron Paul endorses the Republican for VA governor

Ron Paul endorses Ken Cuccinelli for Virginia governor - James Hohmann - POLITICO.com:

October 11, 2013 - "Ron Paul endorsed Ken Cuccinelli for Virginia governor Friday night, boosting the Republican’s push to woo voters who have bled to a third-party candidate.

"Libertarian Robert Sarvis could be a spoiler in next month’s off-year election, attracting what should be Republican voters concerned about the nominee’s strong opposition to gay marriage and abortion.

"The former Texas congressman, who retains a large following among libertarians after his presidential bid last year, does not mention Sarvis in his two-page letter of support for Cuccinelli....

"'Ken Cuccinelli has always stood for smaller government and limited government,' writes Paul. 'He has consistently and unapologetically worked with the Liberty movement in Virginia. His stand against ObamaCare shows he is willing to stand up to Washington’s continued abuses on our individual liberties'....

"A POLITICO poll this week found Sarvis getting 12 percent among likely voters, with Democrat Terry McAuliffe leading Cuccinelli by 9 points.

"Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has already offered support for Cuccinelli and appeared at a fundraiser for him in Nashville."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/ron-paul-endorses-ken-cuccinelli-virginia-governor-2013-elections-98208.html
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Sarvis achieves 10% poll average, still excluded from final debate

Robert Sarvis: Libertarian candidate hits 10 percent in Virginia, won't be invited to debate - David Wiegel, Slate:

"The latest RealClearPolitics average of polling in Virginia's race for governor puts Democrat Terry McAuliffe at 46.4 percent, Republican Ken Cuccinelli at 36.8 percent, and Libertarian Robert Sarvis at 10 percent. All year, channel WDBJ7, the sponsor of the final debate (it's tomorrow), had said that any candidate polling at 10 percent or more would make it onstage.

"But no, Sarvis won't be there. The cutoff for inclusion in the debate was Oct. 10, two weeks before the event (as if anything could change a campaign in two weeks). On that date, Sarvis was polling at an average of 9 percent, so he was out.

"'We all know what happened here,' said Sarvis after the decision came down. 'As the goalposts kept changing over the past couple weeks, it became clear that the decision would be made on the basis of measures that have the patina of objectivity, but in fact are designed to exclude.' The last poll before the deadline, a Politico/PPP survey gave Sarvis 12 percent, so the network ran with the average that added in older, lower numbers."

Read more: http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2013/10/23/libertarian_candidate_hits_10_percent_in_virginia_won_t_be_invited_to_debate.html
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Sarvis excluded from final VA gubernatorial debate

Libertarian excluded from Virginia gubernatorial debate - James Hohmann - POLITICO.com:

October 10, 2013 - "The Libertarian candidate will not be invited to participate in the final debate of the Virginia governor’s race, a break for Republican Ken Cuccinelli.

"WDBJ7, the CBS affiliate organizing the Oct. 24 debate on the campus of Virginia Tech, announced late Thursday that Robert Sarvis has fallen just short of the 10 percent threshold for a third candidate to get on stage.

"'As of this date, the third party candidate is polling at 9.0% based on the averages on realclearpolitics.com and would, therefore, not meet the guidelines agreed upon by the campaigns,' emailed Kelly Zuber, the station’s news director....

"With both major candidates viewed more unfavorably than favorably, the libertarian option has fared well among voters who don’t want to pick between 'the lesser of two evils.' Sarvis received 12 percent in a three-way POLITICO poll conducted over the weekend of likely voters, while Democrat Terry McAuliffe was at 44 percent and Cuccinelli 35 percent.

"Cuccinelli’s campaign has warned that Sarvis could be a spoiler."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/virginia-governor-debate-robert-sarvis-libertarian-98161.html
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Reason interviews Robert Sarvis, Libertarian candidate for VA governor

Robert Sarvis: Libertarian Candidate for Governor of Virginia with Double-Digit Poll Numbers - Reason.com - Brian Doherty:

October 2, 2013 - "Robert Sarvis is the Libertarian Party’s candidate for governor in Virginia this year, and is so far doing surprisingly well in the polls for that party, coming in recently at 10 percent in a Washington Post poll.

"With a law degree from New York University, a master’s in economics from George Mason University, and a Google Grand Prize in the company's Android Development challenge in his past, this married 37-year-old father of two is trying to appeal across the libertarian spectrum of 'leave us alone' with a slogan of 'Virginia: open minded and open for business'....

"Senior Editor Brian Doherty interviewed Sarvis by phone yesterday about the joys and travails of a surprisingly lively third party campaigner."

Read more: http://reason.com/archives/2013/10/02/robert-sarvis-libertarian-candidate-for
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Robert Sarvis runs first campaign ad during debate

Libertarian Crashes the Party on Virginia's Debate Night - NationalJournal.com - Sarah Mimms, National Journal:

September 25, 2013 - "Halfway through Wednesday evening's contentious gubernatorial debate in Virginia, a female voice asked a question that was likely going through the minds of many voters: 'Can't vote for either of these guys?'

"Libertarian Robert Sarvis, who has been gaining in recent polling thanks to voters' dissatisfaction with both of the main party candidates, ran his first 30-second television ad during the debate, touting himself as another option. Coming on the heels of more than 30 minutes of heated debate -- in which Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe accused his Republican rival, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, of supporting a social agenda that is bad for women while Cuccinelli accused McAuliffe of wanting to sell Virginia to the highest bidder -- Sarvis criticized both candidates, offering Virginians a third choice....

"Sarvis has begun to see an uptick among voters clearly dissatisfied with both of their options. [A Washington Post] poll showed him with 10 percent support among Virginia voters in a three-way contest, while a WRC-TV/NBC News/Marist poll conducted around the same time showed him with 8 percent support.

"Sarvis was not invited to participate in the debate, which was produced by WRC-TV in Washington and aired on NBC affiliates throughout the commonwealth."




Read more: http://www.nationaljournal.com/hotline-on-call/libertarian-crashes-the-party-on-virginia-s-debate-night-20130925
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Libertarian Sarvis holds 7% support in VA governor's race

Quinnipiac: McAuliffe 44, Cuccinelli 41, Sarvis 7 | Bearing Drift: Virginia's Conservative Voice - Norman Leahy:

September 18, 2013 - "Virginia pressies were salivating over the release of this most recent poll of likely voters from Quinnipiac. But the numbers confound the building narrative that Ken Cuccinelli isn’t just beaten but thoroughly cooked. He’s within the poll’s 3.1 percent margin of error.

So instead, Quinnipiac chooses to say the race comes down to the Libertarian:

With 7 percent of likely voters, Robert Sarvis, the Libertarian candidate in the too-close-to call Virginia governor’s race, could hold the key to victory for Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who has 44 percent of likely voters, or Republican State Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, who has 41 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

"Democrat McAuliffe gets a split 38 – 38 percent favorability rating, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds, compared to Republican Cuccinelli’s negative 34 – 51 percent rating. For Sarvis, 85 percent don’t know enough about him to form an opinion."

"Virginia voters have traditionally ignored third-party candidates when it actually comes time to vote.... Could this time be different? Neither major party candidate is liked and Ken Cuccinelli is actually disliked by a majority of the poll’s respondents. Sarvis could, theoretically, benefit in November simply because he isn’t either of those other guys."

Read more: http://bearingdrift.com/2013/09/18/quinnipiac-mcauliffe-44-cuccinelli-41-sarvis-7/
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VA Libertarian kept out of debates & most polls

Debates, polls silence Libertarian VA gubernatorial candidate - Kathryn Watson, Human Events:

August 26, 2013 - "Virginians will have three options in November when they mark their choice for governor on the ballot.

"But you wouldn’t know it from scanning coverage of the contentious race for the commonwealth’s highest seat in public office.

"It’s hard to turn on the TV, read a tweet or open a web browser without seeing ads — usually attack ads — for either Republican Ken Cuccinelli orDemocrat Terry McAuliffe. Many pollsters and debate gatekeepers, not to mention media outlets, are leaving Libertarian Robert Sarvis out of the conversation entirely....

"'I’m talking about issues that just aren’t being talked about,' Sarvis said in an interview with Watchdog.org, mentioning pension reform, decriminalizing minor drug offenses, creating a preferential-free and simple tax system and shrinking Virginia’s reliance on the federal government.

"[T]hird-party candidates like Sarvis ... aren’t well known ... so they often aren’t included in polls. Because they aren’t included in polls, they can’t meet polling criteria for debating their opponents.... They don’t have a chance to hash it out with opponents, so they don’t get public exposure. (The comparatively diminutive size of third-party war chests also doesn’t help.)"

Read more: http://www.humanevents.com/2013/08/26/debates-polls-silence-libertarian-va-gubernatorial-candidate/
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Libertarian Robert Sarvis: Cuccinelli is 'too extreme', McAuliffe 'is terrible'

Libertarian trying to shake up Va. governor's race gets tough on top candidates | Fox News:

August 10, 2013 - "Robert Sarvis, the Libertarian Party candidate in the Virginia gubernatorial race, knows he’s a long shot to win. That’s typical for a third-party candidate going against a Democrat, a Republican and the well-funded operations that support them.

"Yet Sarvis is hoping to ride the country’s recent wave of Libertarian enthusiasm long enough to at least shake up a race in which voters are showing unfavorable opinions for Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe and Republican nominee Ken Cuccinelli....

"He accuses both gubernatorial candidates of economic and social 'engineering' in which they pick winners and losers based upon their views and those of their respective political party.

"He argues personal and economic freedoms 'cannot be separated out' and points out that Cuccinelli supports the coal industry while McAuliffe touts green energy.... 'Instead of trying to free business from government, they are picking and choosing which industries they like better,' he told FoxNews.com on Saturday....

"'McAuliffe is terrible for Virginia. He’s a national Democrat, not a Virginia Democrat,' Sarvis continued. 'And Cuccinelli is too extreme on personal issues and not transparent on economic issues.'"

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/08/10/libertarian-trying-to-shake-up-va-governor-race-has-unflattering-words-for-top/#ixzz2cjnEtfN4
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