GOP presidential candidate (and two term Governor of New Mexico) Gary Johnson is leaving the GOP to run for President as a Libertarian. His frustration and being omitted from the debates and the polls finally drove him out of the Republican Party.
Frankly I doubt it will have an effect on the outcome in November 2012, as few vote for most third party candidates. Still, the LP now has a former governor running as its premier candidate. Way to go, GOP!
The LP nomination for Johnson is far from guaranteed — the governor is a “weak” Libertarian compared to the more ideological folks running within the LP. But his elected status should give him the frontrunner position at the LP national convention.
http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/johnson-libertarian-gop-president/2011/12/14/id/421034?s=al&promo_code=DB78-1