The Biggest Little City is adding to its list of recent presidential campaign visits -- with a stop from Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson Tuesday.

During his brief visit, Johnson did something unusual for the campaign trail: he scaled the 70-foot first level of CommRow's outdoor climbing wall. It was a fitting metaphor for the uphill battle facing the third-party candidate.

"This is an uphill climb," Johnson said, "and I am going to argue that I'm not the third choice; that I'm the only choice in this race."

Johnson is gearing up not just for a difficult climb, but for a challenging campaign season. The two-party system in the United States makes it very difficult for a third-party candidate to get elected.

Johnson was the Republican governor of New Mexico from 1995 to 2003, and was selected by the Libertarian party to be their candidate this election season.

Johnson said as a member of a third party, he can challenge both Democrats and Republicans on major issues, like civil liberties and the economy.

"Have that challenge," Johnson said, "as opposed to what you've got now, which is no compromise on two issues that are really important to Americans."

The third party perspective is what Mimi Garner says won her over to Johnson's fan base.

"I think we need somebody that's third party," Garner said, "that can cut through the pointing fingers and say 'This is what we're going to do, and how we're going to go about doing it.'"

Johnson said his ultimate goal is to win the election, but first he wants to be allowed to participate in the presidential debates, which traditionally only feature the two candidates from the major parties.

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Libertarian Candidate Takes on Uphill Climb in Reno