Jim Clymer

Who is Jim Clymer?

James N. Clymer was the 2012 Vice presidential nominee of the United States Constitution Party and is the former chairman of that party.

Clymer grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and earned a law degree. He was admitted to the Bar in Pennsylvania in May 1978. In 1986 he was appointed Chairman of the Bob Smith for Senate Committee. In 1992 he joined the Libertarian Party and ran as their candidate for Pennsylvania Auditor General. He also ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania in 1994 and 1998, attaining 13% and 10.5%, respectively. He ran for a United States Senate seat in 2004, garnering nearly 4% of the vote against Arlen Specter and Joe Hoeffel. He received 220,056 votes, which may have at the time been the second highest number of votes any Constitution Party member has received, after the 460,269 votes for Peg Luksik's 1994 gubernatorial bid received. He was able to gain some support from conservative, pro-life Republicans who had voted for Pat Toomey in the close Senate Primary against Arlen Specter, who was more liberal, especially on social issues. He also gained the endorsement of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Unlike many minor party candidates, Clymer was invited to participate in a televised U.S. Senate Candidates' Debate.