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Libertarian Party chair candidate strips on stage during national convention

The man told the Libertarian Party convention it could 'use a little fun'

Alexandra Sims
Sunday 29 May 2016 23:24 BST
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Libertarian Party chair candidate strips on stage during national convention

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The Libertarian Party convention saw an unexpected striptease after a candidate for the party chair began dancing and stripping down to a thong during his two minute speech.

The candidate began his routine by telling members of the convention at the Rosen Centre Hotel in Orlando, Florida he thought the event could “use a little fun”.

Some delegates at the Libertarian National Convention initially clapped and danced along, but the crowd became quiet once he began to remove his suit, The Washington Times reports.

The striptease appeared to be the result of a dare with the man heard saying, “I’m sorry, that was a dare,” after finishing the dance, adding that he would immediately pull out of the race.

Delegates at the event seem unimpressed by the striptease with the Wall Street Journal’s Byron Tau overhearing one member of the convention saying: “At a time when we need to be taken seriously”.

It remains unclear who the man is, however pictures and video footage of his risqué act have been circulating on social media.

The Libertarian Party nominated former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson as its presidential candidate on Sunday.

Mr Johnson, 63, won the nomination on the second ballot at the party's convention, defeating Austin Petersen, the founder of The Libertarian Republic magazine, and anti-computer virus company founder John McAfee.

The delegates selected former Massachusetts Governor William Weld to be his vice presidential running mate.

Pie attack on politician

The party's nominee in 2012, Mr Johnson told the delegates during his acceptance speech that his job will be to get the Libertarian platform before the voters at a level the party has not seen.

"I am fiscally conservative in spades and I am socially liberal in spades," said Mr Johnson.

"I would cut back on military interventions that have the unintended consequence of making us less safe in the world."

Additional reporting by Associated Press

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