The 1998-2000 National Committee was to be chosen at the 1998 National Convention, held in Washington, D.C. over the 4th of July weekend. Members and supporters of the Browne campaign worked vigorously to install a sympathetic National Committee. The National Chair candidate was David Bergland, Harry Browne’s 1996 Campaign Chair. In Bergland, Browne had a highly reliable supporter who was…
Third Party Watch
Browne announced in 1997 that he needed a much larger Libertarian Party, a party that by December 1999 would number 200,000 members instead of 22,000 members. Could the Party possibly recruit 200,000 members by the end of 1999? No matter what method the National Party used, Browne’s recruitment objective appeared unattainable. On one hand, to reach Browne’s objective, the National…
Browne’s published strategy did not mention internal political difficulties faced by Browne. I’ve noted above issues that had arisen as a result of Browne’s changes of mind during the 1996 campaign. Some these difficulties were issues that the Browne campaign could not mention publicly, but that needed to be addressed. An early indication that Browne’s 1996 Campaign had not been…
Browne’s announced strategy laying the groundwork for the 2000 Libertarian campaign thus had three independent goals: (1) The Libertarian Party needed to increase its membership from 22,000 in 1997 to 200,000 by 2000. (2) By the end of 1999, the Browne campaign needed to stockpile at least $1,000,000 of accumulated cash as a warchest. Note the key operative modifier ‘accumulated’.…
Browne first revealed his strategy in a letter dated February 10, 1997 reportedly sent to ‘maximum donors” to his 1996 campaign. In that letter, Browne revealed the formation of an exploratory committee, and set forth his campaign objectives: “It all comes down to one thing: how big the Libertarian Party is. Today the Libertarian Party has about 22,000 members. While…
Where did the 1996 money go? For the same period, FEC reports reveal 1996 Post-Nomination Aggregate Expenses Recipient Purposes Amount Libertarian National Committee administrative and contract…
Statement from the Libertarian Party of San Francisco The Libertarian Party of San Francisco firmly believes that all affiliates—whether at the state or county level—should uphold the core principles and bylaws of the national Libertarian Party. In light of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire’s continued support for authoritarian rhetoric and tactics, as well as their open endorsement of Donald…
Composite Spending How did the Browne Campaign spend its money to get its half percent of the vote? The primary beneficiary of the Browne general election Campaign’s spending was LNC, Inc.; it received $117,000. Sharon Ayres received $57,000. Other Browne campaign staffers received rather less. Are these numbers of interest? The Libertarian Party’s Presidential candidate is selected by unbound delegates…
There is a link to obtain a Zoom Link. Notice of Special LNC E-Meeting July 13, 2025 at 7pm Eastern
What is the significance of the P Transaction for the Browne Campaign? Once again the National Party had given Browne’s campaign a direct subsidy of substantial value for Browne’s 2000 effort. Browne donors, in addition to the letters and the books and other tchotchkes, now had received Party membership extensions, which some of them believed had been paid for by…