Libertarian Party chooses presidential candidate

July 3, 2000
Web posted at: 3:39 a.m. EDT (0739 GMT)

ANAHEIM, California (CNN) -- Author and retired investment adviser Harry Browne, 67, won the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination during its convention in Anaheim on Sunday.

Browne won on the first ballot, garnering 493 of 878 votes cast. A majority of votes cast was needed to win.

"I am running for president because it is obvious that no Democrat or Republican is ever going to stop the relentless growth of the federal government," Browne said in his acceptance speech, which he delivered to a cheering audience. "...only a Libertarian is going to set you free."

Browne told the audience that the Libertarian Party offers freedom from income tax, Social Security, "the insane war on drugs," and would return the country to a "constitutional government."

The Party also intends to end "reckless foreign policy that is going to put your children at risk of fighting and dying in a foreign war, and targets your city by terrorists," Browne said.

The next closest candidate, Don Gorman, a former merchant marine captain and former New Hampshire state legislator, received 166 votes.

Founded in 1971, the Libertarian Party says it stands for a free-market economy, individual liberty and personal responsibility, and a foreign policy of non- intervention, peace, and free trade. It is on the ballot in 35 states.

Browne also won the party's nomination in 1996 and went on to win 485,759 votes in the general election, the second-best showing in the party's history.