Why is Gary Johnson polling at 7-16% but Stein is at 1-2%?

[Pragmatic Conservative]

Gary Johnson is viewed as more mainstream and more qualified then Jill Stein. While the Libertarian platform is somewhat radical (such as abolishing the income tax, or exit from almost all trade agreements and international organizations ). Johnson's elected record  is viewed as more mainstream because he has a) been an elected Republican official b) been endorsed by some major Republicans. It also helps that people view him as more qualified, both Johnson and Weld have been former two term Governors from moderately sized states. Meanwhile the green party has been seen by some as promoting various conspiracy theories such as Vaccines might cause Autism. Stein is also not seen as qualified, never serving in elected office. 

[SWE]

Gary Johnson is far better at hiding just how terrifying the policies he advocates are. While Stein is upfront about her support for dictatorships and fear of wi-fi, Johnson is smart enough not talk about the Social Darwinism he supports.

[Figueira]

Almost everyone can find something to agree with in Johnson's platform, plus he and his VP pick have experience. Stein and Baraka have never held public office before and only appeal to Berniebros.

Nitpick: "Berniebros" isn't the right word for Stein's fan base. She appeals to the usual progressives who normally vote for the Green Party, with an added bonus this time of delusional Sanders fans (I hesitate to say "Berniebros" because that seems to imply sexism), and a subtraction of those progressives who are just incredibly afraid of Trump.

Other than that, you're basically right.

[Vosem]

Gary Johnson, whatever you think of his ideology, is a credible candidate on a credible ticket of two people who are qualified to be President (who are probably held back by the LP party manifesto, having aligned themselves with the LP for the ballot access; I'm decently confident an independent Johnson/Weld ticket with equivalent ballot access would be doing better, to say nothing of a Weld/Johnson ticket). Stein and Baraka are Some Dude-level.

[MasterJedi]

Almost everyone can find something to agree with in Johnson's platform, plus he and his VP pick have experience. Stein and Baraka have never held public office before and only appeal to Berniebros.

Nitpick: "Berniebros" isn't the right word for Stein's fan base. She appeals to the usual progressives who normally vote for the Green Party, with an added bonus this time of delusional Sanders fans (I hesitate to say "Berniebros" because that seems to imply sexism), and a subtraction of those progressives who are just incredibly afraid of Trump.

Other than that, you're basically right.

No idea how "Berniebro" can sound sexist when it references their behavior but then again. SJWs man, SJWs -_-

[Figueira]

Almost everyone can find something to agree with in Johnson's platform, plus he and his VP pick have experience. Stein and Baraka have never held public office before and only appeal to Berniebros.

Nitpick: "Berniebros" isn't the right word for Stein's fan base. She appeals to the usual progressives who normally vote for the Green Party, with an added bonus this time of delusional Sanders fans (I hesitate to say "Berniebros" because that seems to imply sexism), and a subtraction of those progressives who are just incredibly afraid of Trump.

Other than that, you're basically right.

No idea how "Berniebro" can sound sexist when it references their behavior but then again. SJWs man, SJWs -_-

I meant that the term "Berniebro" refers to people who are sexist.

"Berniebro" as a term only refers to people who fit a certain stereotype though, and as such it's not a helpful term in serious discussion.

[Horus]

Johnson is qualified and seems to understand basic science. Stein is not and does not.

[Eraserhead]

There are several polls where Stein has been at 4%-7% and there are a number of polls that have Johnson under 7%. In the current RCP average, Johnson is at 8.9% and Stein is at 3.3%.

In reality, he's probably doing a bit better than Stein because Democrats seem to be more satisfied with Clinton than Republicans are with Trump. While there are plenty of Democrats who don't love Clinton she hasn't embarrassed herself in the way Trump has.

[Eraserhead]

Johnson is qualified and seems to understand basic science. Stein is not and does not.

Why's he against mandatory vaccinations then? His position on that issue is far worse than Stein's.

[Drew]

Johnson can pull votes from either of the major parties due to social liberalism (Dems) and fiscal conservatism (GOP).  The polls have shown this.  Meanwhile, Stein only pulls from parts of the far left.  She's running her campaign off of Bernie's coattails, while Baraka is on record calling Bernie a white supremacist.

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Gary Johnson is a credible candidate, Jill Stein is a far left kook. Plus Johnson has gotten a lot more exposure and the Green Party has a smaller base and is seen as a one issue party.

Exactly. Johnson, by running as a John Anderson-esque low tax liberal, has been able to gobble up these votes. Stein stands for everything Bernie does, but she doesn't have the political record to stand on, nor the exposure.

Lol, Johnson is not running as a liberal by any stretch of the imagination.  He's a generic 90s establishment has-been with a few random issues where he diverges which makes him a passable protest vote for many #NeverTrump Republicans.  Stein is a crazy person who doesn't even reflect the beliefs of most Sanders supporters.  Plus, most Sanders voters' love of country/fear of Trump outweighs their dislike of Hillary.

[Nym90]

There are way more never-Trump Republicans than never-Clinton Democrats, and Johnson is much more experienced and thus a more likely placeholder than Stein for the "I hate them both and just want to cast a protest vote" swing voters.

[Liberalrocks]

Here's your answer. Close thread:

Gary Johnson is a credible candidate, Jill Stein is a far left kook. Plus Johnson has gotten a lot more exposure and the Green Party has a smaller base and is seen as a one issue party.

Agreed.

[Maxwell]

There are way more never-Trump Republicans than never-Clinton Democrats, and Johnson is much more experienced and thus a more likely placeholder than Stein for the "I hate them both and just want to cast a protest vote" swing voters.