In the proud tradition of Ross Perot and Ralph Nader, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson is now the official third-party candidate for the 2012 Presidential election.

Our smarter readers will remember that Gary had, up until December, been in the running for the Republican nomination. Yet, over the weekend, the businessman-turned-politician nabbed the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party at the party's convention in Las Vegas. (Insert your "whatever happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" joke here.)

It kind of makes sense. Gary was always the more ... unique candidate during the GOP primaries. His proposed policies, for example, include:

• eliminating the Department of Education;
• cutting close to 45% of federal spending;
• shutting down the IRS and instituting a 23% national sales tax;
• oh, and he supports gay marriage and legalizing marijuana.

Unlike other third party candidates, Gary has some actual name recognition with voters. He even pulled in a 6% response of "I would vote for him" in  a recent poll of potential voters -- and, if he can get it up to 15%, the powers that be might let him participate the presidential debates.

So, this should be interesting to watch.