Free Republic

WASHINGTON -- Democrat John Kerry has already lost the 2004 presidential race and the country should get ready for another four years of Republican George W. Bush's leadership, Ralph Nader said Thursday. "Bush is mocking him, he's taunting him," Nader said. "There's no strategy by the Democrats." Nader, battling to get on ballots as an independent presidential candidate, predicted Bush would win by a margin so large that his own candidacy would not be seen as a factor in the outcome. Democratic leaders blamed Nader for former Vice President Al Gore's loss to Bush in 2000. "The telltale sign" of...

RALPH NADER SPOKESMAN KEVIN ZEESE: "We met with [Sen. John Kerry] and his staff last week and noticed afterwards that his staff said that Iraq was not discussed, when of course it was ... What I make of that is that he is very insecure about the issue because he wants the peace vote and the war vote." (Donald Lambro, “Base Yet To Unify Behind Kerry,” The Washington Times, http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040601-122123-6646r.htm, 6/1/04)

"John Kerry told the Democrat Leadership Council that he is a centrist, but behind closed doors he told Ralph Nader that he is not Bill Clinton or Al Gore and should be judged on his Senate record. Kerry's record includes voting for higher taxes, more government spending and cuts to defense systems while the National Journal has rated Kerry the most 'liberal' member of the Senate. John Kerry may say different things to different people, but he can't run away from his record." - Steve Schmidt, Bush-Cheney '04 Spokesman John Kerry Tells Ralph Nader: "Judge Me By My Record"...

Ralph loses old friends, and makes some new ones. IN JANUARY, JOHN PEARCE started a website devoted to discouraging Ralph Nader from running for president. Four years ago, Pearce, a 49-year-old businessman, supported Al Gore. He watched in horror as Nader, then the Green party candidate for president, siphoned off progressive votes from Gore in several key states like Florida. Pearce, who lives in California, a state that Gore won handily, thinks Nader played the spoiler in the 2000 election. Were it not for Nader, he feels, Al Gore would be president today. Pearce is not alone in thinking so....