Maddow asked Weld if he believed voters in the swing states that will decide this election — Ohio, North Carolina, Florida — should vote Libertarian, given his strong opposition to Donald Trump. He said he thinks “on the merits we have the best ticket,” but “I fear for the country if Mr. Trump should be elected.” For anyone deciding not to tempt fate by voting Libertarian in key swing states, “I have a lot to say about Mrs. Clinton that has not been said by others recently and I think needs to be said,” Weld added. “I mean, I’ve known her for 40 years, I’ve worked with her, I know her well professionally, I know her well personally, I know her to be a person of high moral character, a reliable person, and an honest person, however much Mr. Trump may rant and rave to the contrary. So I’m happy to say that and people can make their own choices.”

Maddow appeared a little confused. “Do you honestly believe that Gary Johnson would be a better president than Hillary Clinton?” she asked. “I think he’d be capable of being a good chief executive and yes, a commander in chief, Aleppo to the contrary notwithstanding,” Weld said, laughing. “He was a strong governor. You know, I believe in the platform of the Libertarian Party,” he said, and wants to see it have “a seat at the table” in Washington, but there’s a “massive difference between the two establishment party candidates.”