Nader warming up for run: pals

New York Daily News ^ | 2/14/04 | News Wire Services

[kattracks]

WASHINGTON - Ralph Nader, reviled by many Democrats as the spoiler who cost Al Gore the White House, is poised for another run, associates say.

Nader has twice delayed saying if he'll be a candidate, but with the anniversary of his Feb. 21, 2000, announcement nearing, people who have tried to talk Nader out of another presidential bid expect him to say he's running.

A spokeswoman for Nader's exploratory campaign, Linda Shade, said he's "in the final stages of making a decision" on an independent candidacy.

News Wire Services

Originally published on February 14, 2004

[jagrmeister]

I will support Nader's campaign any way possible.

[carl in alaska]

Run Ralph Run!!....please give it another try....this will be a close race and we need you to pull every vote possible from the Democrats. I like your suit Ralph, but who picked the tie...Ray Charles?

[Paleo Conservative]

I will support Nader's campaign any way possible.

We ought to form a group that pretends to swap votes between states. We could pretend to be Nader voters in tossup states willing to swap with Kerry voters in blowout states. We'll vote for President Bush but cause Nader's popular vote to go up and Kerry's popular vote to go down nationwide.

[Omedalus]

His "exploratory" website is at www.naderexplore04.org. (DON'T CLICK! I intentionally left off the http prefix to keep this from being a link. Cut-n-paste the address into your browser's address bar rather than clicking on a link, lest Nader's sysadmins see a pile of Free Republic referrer log entries).

He is recruiting campaign volunteers at www.naderexplore04.org/volunteer.html . His decision on whether or not he'll run will be partially based on how much volunteer support he receives.

I recommend not only volunteering under several assumed identities, but to also actually volunteer as your real self. We want this guy to do very, very well. Most importantly, we don't want him entering the race and then dropping out when he realizes his support is a sham.

Nader will paint Kerry as the limousine liberal that he is. He will point out Kerry's special interest record, and vilify him for his wife's riches. In other words, he'll alienate the Far Left from Kerry, something which the Bush team could never do on their own because they don't speak the Far Left's language. This man will do a great deal of good by being in this race.

[XHogPilot]

Ralph Nader, reviled by many Democrats as the spoiler who cost Al Gore the White House, is poised for another run

Oh please, please, please. Pretty please with sugar on top, please.

[Omedalus]

Make it happen! Volunteer!
www.naderexplore04.org/volunteer.html

[randog]

In other words, he'll alienate the Far Left from Kerry, something which the Bush team could never do on their own because they don't speak the Far Left's language.

Nader must feel confident that Dean's ship is going down and he wants to be there to rescue his voters. The Deanie babies must be very demoralized at this point. The time is right for Ralph to pull up in the SS Watermelon and get everyone back on board.

[samtheman]

I'm thinking about "volunteering", but the thought of giving those creeps my home phone and address is holding me back.

[Omedalus]

I know. It takes balls. But I'm willing to risk it. And I'm in Seattle - prime Nader territory. Getting that man to run is worth it.

[dano1]

If the Dems nominate Kerry they are asking the more liberal, anti-war side of their party to look elsewhere. They can't have it both ways. Kucinich and Dean combined got about 40% of the vote in Maine, I believe. Kerry supported the war and No Child Left Behind. Kerry's record of collecting the most special interest money of any senator doesn't help either. Some Dems are saying they would rather vote for Kucinich on principle and lose then vote for Kerry and, well, lose.

[Owen]

Send Him Emails Of Support And Promise Him Money. And Send It If He Runs.

[Owen]

Linda Shade appears to be in Maryland's Green Party. Their website is here. Can someone track down her email so we can find out how to fund the Nader campaign?

http://www.baltimorecountygreens.org/email_listserve_members.htm

[Omedalus]

Nader isn't running as a Green. He's independent this year.

[Republican Wildcat]

I suppose that means yet another candidate would be on the Green Party ballot to further split the vote, right?

[onyx]

I will support Nader's campaign any way possible.

With the exception of a monetary donation, DITTO.

Run Ralph Run, and make Howard Dean your VP running mate.

[Omedalus]

"I suppose that means yet another candidate would be on the Green Party ballot to further split the vote, right?"

That's a very good point. Unfortunately, this will also make it more difficult for Nader to get the necessary signatures to participate in national televised debates. He needs something like 600,000, right? That's gonna take one hell of a FReeping... :)

[Omedalus]

"Run Ralph Run, and make Howard Dean your VP running mate."

Damn good idea! Volunteer at the website, and write that suggestion into the "Comments" section of the volunteer application. (You can, of course, volunteer under an assumed identity - in fact, you should do this a few times anyway - but Nader will go farther with REAL volunteers, even half-assed ones. We don't want him hopping in only to drop out again.)

[Porterville]

I hope him and Dean become butt-buddies.