"Reno, I can not thank you enough...what a wonderful start! Launching the ship here!" said Gary Johnson, Libertarian nominee for President at at the end of a campaign rally Friday.
Northern Nevada is no secret to the former New Mexico governor, but Johnson is a bit of a secret to Northern Nevadans. In fact, 63 percent of all voters across the country are unfamiliar with him, according to a July Gallup pole.
"The fact right now that we're polling at 12 percent when 30% of people even know who we are, I think it bodes well."
Johnson and his running mate, former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld hosted a rally at The University of Nevada outside the Joe Crowley student union.
The two delivered speeches and answered questions from the crowd. The goal was to present a mix of views that offer an alternative to the two major parties saying they represent most Americans.
"The biggest message today is consider us," says Johnson, "As a very very viable alternative to this two party system that has become so polarized that they're not, that they're not able to do anything."
"I don't think the two party monopoly has been productive with creative policy making in Washington," says Vice Presidential nominee Bill Weld, "It seems like the two parties almost seem to exist for the soul purpose of killing each other."
Their message was fiscally conservative, saying they would balance the federal budget and replace the IRS with a consumption tax. They are socially liberal supporting same sex marriage and the black lives matter movement.Â
"The polls show that about 55% of the people in the united states identify with that mix of policy views," says Weld, "that's why we think we have an avenue right up the middle to win the whole thing."
Kathy Hartwell says she missed her flight to Reno this morning but still managed to make it for the rally. She flew to Sacramento and rented a car to drive into Reno. She thinks Johnson is the best candidate.
"I own cannabis stores in Washington state so de-scheduling marijuana is an important issue for me personally"
Other voters simply don't like the Democratic and Republican nominees.
"It seems to be the same message from both Hillary and Donald Trump," says John Becon of Reno, "in that they just criticize each other that's all they do, they don't talk about solutions."
"I cannot in good conscience get behind either one, democrat or republican candidate," says Ryan Gerchman, "One, I don't trust, and scares me, the other one, I don't trust."
Right now the Libertarians are only on the ballot in 36 state but plan to get on all 50. Johnson says they are ahead for this year compared to 2012 in that process.
