Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson possesses the potential to do to Mitt Romney next month what Nader did to Al Gore in 2000: siphon off just enough votes as a third-party candidate to swing an entire presidential election.

Charles Dharapak, Associated Press

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Could Gary Johnson become the next Ralph Nader?

Johnson the Libertarian presidential candidate who will appear on the ballot in 48 states come Nov. 6 possesses the potential to do to Mitt Romney next month what Nader did to Al Gore in 2000: siphon off just enough votes as a third-party candidate to swing an entire presidential election. To that end, a front-page article in Mondays New York Times Spoiler Alert! G.O.P. Fighting Libertarians Spot on the Ballot examines multiple ways in which Johnson could directly affect the outcome of the presidential election.

Now campaigning as the Libertarian Partys presidential nominee, Mr. Johnson is still only a blip in the polls, Jim Rutenberg wrote for the Times. But he is on the ballot in every state except Michigan and Oklahoma, enjoys the support of a few small super PACs and is trying to tap into the same grass-roots enthusiasm that helped build Representative Ron Paul a big following. And with polls showing the race between President Obama and Mitt Romney to be tight, Mr. Johnsons once-fellow Republicans are no longer laughing. Both sides agree that Mr. Johnson, whose pro-marijuana legalization and antiwar stances may appeal to the youth vote and whose antigovernment, anti-spending proposals may appeal to conservative fiscal hawks and to supporters of Mr. Paul has the potential to draw from both Mr. Romney and Mr. Obama.

Johnson is the former two-term governor of New Mexico who spent most of 2011 running for president as a Republican. But to hear Johnson speak, he isn't overly fond of the GOP's nominee.

I mean Romney, in the second [GOP primary] debate, said that its a no brainer to build a fence across the border, Johnson said in a Q&A that Salon.com published Saturday. Youre talking about somebody right now without one molecule of brain based on his statement. Building a fence across the border would be wacky nuts! And here it is thats what he wants to do.

Within the past week, U.S. News & World Report covered Johnson campaigning on college campuses, and the Washington Post examined Johnsons campaign presence in the nations capitol.

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Libertarian calls Mitt Romney 'wacky nuts' on immigration