Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson to Sanders supporters: Check us out

WASHINGTON, June 8 (UPI) -- Libertarian Party presidential nominee Gary Johnson invited disaffected supporters of Bernie Sanders Wednesday to consider his party's platform.

His comments came the day after presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton won the California, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota primaries over candidate Bernie Sanders. Counting Tuesday night's delegates haul along with potential superdelegates, she reached the required number of delegates to secure the nomination.

Johnson called himself "a real alternative" to Clinton and presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in a CNN interview.

"For all those Bernie supporters out there, how about taking a look at the Libertarian ticket?" he suggested.

"Government can level the playing field. Crony capitalism is alive and well," Johnson said, echoing sentiments expressed during the campaign by Sanders.

Of Clinton, Johnson commented, "I do think that Hillary has been the architect of what is happening worldwide, and I don't think the world is any safer today."

Later, on CNBC, he said his party's goal is to win the election, not siphon votes from other candidates, refuting suggestions his run could take votes away from Trump and ensure Clinton's victory. A RealClearPolitics average of national polls shows that in a three-way race, Clinton would have 39 percent of the vote, Trump 38 percent and Johnson 8.5 percent.

Johnson said he is not thinking of which party his candidacy would most injure, but instead wants "to actually win."

He added he believes the Libertarian Party can reach the 15 percent threshold in polls, demanded by the Commission on Presidential Debates, to make him eligible to participate in debates with Clinton and Trump.

"If I'm in the presidential debates and I'm representing 25 million people, the eventual winner is going to have to do more than just pay lip service to the things I'm saying. I'm, going to be talking about smaller government [and] regulations that benefit all, not a few," Johnson told CNBC.

Libertarian candidate @GovGaryJohnson: Bernie supporters, how about taking a look at my ticket? https://t.co/iKDEzDRfrW

— New Day (@NewDay) June 8, 2016