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| Ralph
Nader Enters Presidential Race |
Posted:
02.23.04 | |
| Former
presidential candidate Ralph Nader announced Sunday that he would once again run
for president, upsetting many in the Democratic Party who feel his presence in
the 2000 election directly contributed to Al Gore's slim defeat by George Bush.
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| Nader,
a well-known consumer advocate, denied responsibility for the Democratic loss
in 2000 and said that his candidacy is  about
giving voters a choice beyond the Democratic and Republican parties, which he
accuses of being dominated by corporate lobbyists who don't care about average
Americans. "With 100 million people not voting, we've got to give
them more voices, choices, more exciting involvement and participation so they're
not just spectators watching candidates parade in front of them with emotional
slogans," Nader told ABC News. | |
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| Election
2000 | |
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| In the 2000 election
Nader, who ran as a Green Party candidate, got about 3 percent of the vote; Al
Gore and George Bush each got 48 percent. But Nader's involvement in the race
was crucial in at least two states, New Hampshire and Florida. In New Hampshire,
President Bush won by 7,211 votes over Gore. Nader received 22,198 votes. In Florida
Mr. Bush beat Gore by 537 votes. Nader received 97,488 votes. Nader said
the polls show that in 2000, 25 percent of his supporters were Republicans and
38 percent were Democrats. Democrats have argued that if those 38 percent of Democrats
 had
voted for Gore instead of Nader, Mr. Bush would have lost the election and Gore
would now be president. Leading Democrats, who have urged him not to run,
have accused Nader of being egotistical and irresponsible. "This is
an act of total vanity and ego satisfaction," said New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson
(D). Nader, he added, "cost us the White House last time, and he could again." | |
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| Nader's
impact in 2004 | |
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| Nader,
who announced his entry into the race Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press, has predicted
that his candidacy is more likely to harm President Bush than the Democratic nominee. "I'd
go after Bush even more vigorously … in the next few months in ways that
the Democrats can't possibly do because they're too cautious and too unimaginative,"
Nader said. But even former Nader supporters from 2000 have announced their
disappointment in his decision to enter the race. "I'm very disappointed
because I believe that the risk of him helping reelect the most reactionary president
in our lifetime greatly exceeds the possible benefits of him making helpful arguments
about corporate power in America," said Mark Green, the former New York City
public advocate who worked for Nader. Nader also faces unique challenges
that he didn't face in 2000. He is no longer a Green Party candidate, which means
that he  must
get on the ballot as an independent candidate in all 50 states. This would mean
collecting about 1.5 million signatures on nominating petitions in all states.
Deadlines for collecting the signatures begin as early as May 13. As an
independent candidate, Nader won't be eligible for up to about $18.6 million in
government funding for the primary season, Federal Election Commission spokesman
Bob Biersack said. And his failure to capture 5 percent of the vote in 2000 --
he got 2.7 percent -- also prevents him from receiving taxpayer funding in the
general election. Democrats have also pledged to challenge Nader in court
to keep him off the ballot. | |
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| Responses
to the decision | |
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| Both
leading contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination, Sen. John Kerry
of Massachusetts and Sen. John Edwards of South Carolina, have said Nader's entrance
into the race would not affect their campaigns. President Bush's campaign
team declined to speculate about the impact of Nader's candidacy on Mr. Bush,
but other Republicans openly embraced Nader's running. "We're happy
that Ralph Nader's joined the fray. Good. Bring some more on. Maybe Jesse Jackson
can run, and Justin Timberlake will get on the ballot. Who knows? Bring in all
of them ... because we're solidly united behind George Bush," Arkansas Republican
Gov. Mike Huckabee said. --
Annie Schleicher, Online NewsHour | |
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