How Election Day could be a victory, sort of, for Gary Johnson

If, for example, Johnson and his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld, capture at least 5 percent of the popular vote nationally in the presidential race, the Libertarian Party would qualify for public funding in future races, which could help it pay for all the work necessary to achieve ballot access in the states.

“That’s a Herculean accomplishment really to get on the ballot in all 50 states,” Johnson said.

While the Libertarian Party did get on the ballot in all the states in 2016 — the only third party to achieve that feat in this election — it would be more likely to repeat that feat if it got an infusion of public funding.

Another possible victory for Johnson — and one that could actually lead to the Oval Office — would require that he win at least one state and that Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton each fail to win 270 Electoral College votes. That would punt the final decision to the House of Representatives.