CNN graphic asks: Why is Gary Johnson still in the race?

 

CNN aired an onscreen graphic on Thursday asking why Libertarian presidential nominee Gary JohnsonGary JohnsonThe Trail 2016: Just a little kick CNN graphic asks: Why is Gary Johnson still in the race? Gary Johnson: I still can't name a foreign leader I admire MORE was still in the presidential race.

CNN Chyron Writer strikes again pic.twitter.com/Uqqthm7DCQ

— Shoshana Weissmann (@senatorshoshana) September 29, 2016

Johnson — a former two-term Republican governor of New Mexico — made a gaffe this week when he was unable to name a world leader he admires in an interview with MSNBC on Wednesday.

CNN has been accused of editorializing with onscreen text in recent months, running fact-checks for GOP presidential nominee Donald TrumpDonald TrumpThe Trail 2016: Just a little kick Clinton gets ‘little kick’ in post-debate polls CNN graphic asks: Why is Gary Johnson still in the race? MORE but not his Democratic rival, Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonThe Trail 2016: Just a little kick Clinton gets ‘little kick’ in post-debate polls CNN graphic asks: Why is Gary Johnson still in the race? MORE. 

  

Johnson currently has 7.2 percent support in the RealClearPolitics average of national polls, and he could take enough votes away from Clinton or Trump to make a difference in what is currently a close race; Clinton leads by an average of 2.9 points.

 

The graphic about Johnson appeared on "CNN Newsroom" during a discussion of the Libertarian's flub the night before with "Hardball" host Chris Matthews. 

"Who's your favorite foreign leader?" Matthews asked Johnson, who appeared with his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld.

"Mine was Shimon Peres," Weld said as Johnson struggled with the question. Peres, a former Israeli prime minister, died Wednesday after a stroke.

"I'm talking about living," Matthews said, pointing back to Johnson. 

 

"You gotta do this. Anywhere. Any continent. Canada, Mexico, Europe, over there, Asia, South America, Africa. Name a foreign leader that you respect," Matthews said.

"I guess I'm having an Aleppo moment," Johnson said, referring to earlier this month when on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" he didn't recognize the name of the Syrian city decimated by civil war.

"But I'm giving you the whole world," Matthews said. "Anybody in the world you like. Anybody. Pick any leader."

"The former president of Mexico," Johnson eventually replied. 

"Which one?" Matthews asked.

"I'm having a brain freeze," Johnson said before finally naming Vicente Fox of Mexico after some help from Weld.