AP: Kerry and Nader to Meet Wednesday

AP via Yahoo News ^ | 5/18/04 | RON FOURNIER

[conservative in nyc]

AP: Kerry and Nader to Meet Wednesday

By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer

WASHINGTON - Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites) will meet Wednesday with independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader (news - web sites), the longtime consumer advocate who is blamed by many Democrats for Al Gore (news - web sites)'s loss in the 2000 election.

Nader has been pushing for a meeting with the presumptive Democratic nominee since Kerry wrapped up the primary race about two months ago. Nader complained as recently as Sunday about the inability to reach key Kerry campaign staffers to arrange a meeting.

The two will meet Wednesday afternoon at Kerry's campaign headquarters, according to two senior Democratic officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. They said Kerry's aides were scrambling Tuesday night to determine what Nader hoped to get out of the meeting, but said there was no reason to believe he would get out of the race as many Democrats have hoped.

[conservative in nyc]

A fly on the wall would fall asleep.

Come on. Was it Maureen Dowd who was fascinated by Flip-Flop's "nuanced" musings about his favorite movie (he named like 20), unlike that simpleton George Bush who gave a short answer? Catherine Zeta Jones' husband's ex-girlfriend might be able to stay awake as Flip-Flop and Naysayer Nader drone on for hours about global warming. Of course, a fly is probably more attractive than Dowd.

[gooleyman]

...Nader wants the VP slot...

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I whole-heartedly agree. And if sKerry wants even the smallest shot at winning he'll give it to him. Else Nader will cost him the election just like he did Gore in 2000. Of course, I really don't think sKerry has a chance anyway. But, then again, I didn't think people would be so stupid in '92 and '96 either. 12 years later and I still feel like it was a bad dream. I thought I'd never awaken from that one.

[TheEaglehasLanded]

Kerry wants to challange Nader for Reform Party endorsement.

[Salman]

What would Nader or Kerry have to gain from such a meeting if Nader's not dropping out of the race?

Perhaps this is to discuss concessions by Kerry in exchange for Nader dropping out, but not yet a done deal.

[CyberAnt]

Ooooh Nooooo! You got purple ones ..?? That's not fair!

[hunter112]

Perhaps this is to discuss concessions by Kerry in exchange for Nader dropping out, but not yet a done deal.

Here's my guess as to the proposed deal: Nader gets Kerry's support in having Ralphie in the debates. If Nader fails to get X percent in the polls by a certain date, Ralphie drops out.

What's in it for Nader is a national stage for his message, and seeming parity with the other two candidates, what's in it for Kerry is making him look like the centrist, and being rid of Nader before he gets Gored.

[ride the whirlwind]

Asked in the interview whether he would drop out if he were to conclude that continuing would hurt Kerry and guarantee Bush's re-election, Nader said he would not. "No. Of course not," he said. "You don't run a presidential campaign nationally and say to your volunteers who have worked their heart out sometime in October, well, sorry."

Does Nader have a reputation as a truth teller? If so, this would indicate he's not going to bolt.

[bootyist-monk]

Secretary of the Interior sounds about right.