Nader moves: This country just does not belong to two parties

Maverick Nader plans presidential re-run
By Julian Coman in Washington
(Filed: 13/07/2003)

In the campaigning headquarters of the nine Democratic candidates hoping to unseat President George W Bush, there is an uncomfortable sense of deja vu.

Ralph Nader, the maverick Green candidate held responsible by many for the defeat of Al Gore in the last presidential elections, is preparing to stand again in 2004.

Mr Nader's daring run for the White House three years ago delighted the radical fringes of the Democratic Party and infuriated mainstream liberals, who claim that he plundered vital votes from Mr Gore in the tightest of races.
 

Ralph Nader

Unimpressed by muted Democratic opposition to the war in Iraq, and unhappy with the party's timid campaigning tactics, the 69-year-old veteran activist is now contemplating a repeat performance. Privately, he has told the American Green Party that he is prepared to run again on a "strong liberal message".

"The Democrats seem incapable of defending our country against the Bush marauders," Mr Nader told The Telegraph last week. "One benefit of me running again would be to teach the Democrats how to deconstruct the Bush regime.

"Look at the recent examples of corporate crime at companies such as Enron. These are the companies that fund the Republican cause. They are [Vice-President] Dick Cheney's buddies. But the Democrats have never led with the issue. Bush's foreign policy also needs to be taken on aggressively, not hesitantly. We need to get across the message that he's endangering America."

A Draft Nader 2004 committee has been formed by Greens who hope to have a campaign team in place by the autumn. "He is leaning towards a run," said Juscha Robinson, the head of the party's campaign committee.

It is the worst possible news for the Democratic Party, which is already struggling to find a viable challenger to President Bush.

Even if the president's popularity is dented by continued controversy over the reasons America went to war in Iraq, a Nader candidacy could hobble the Democrats' own nominee before the presidential campaigning has begun properly.

Four years ago, in the tightest presidential race in American history, the straight-talking Mr Nader ruthlessly targeted the liberal activist wing of the Democratic Party, picking up votes from disillusioned environmentalists, opponents of globalisation and radical feminists.

In all, Mr Nader gained 2.78 million votes in a contest that was eventually won by a margin of 537 votes. In Florida, where a controversial recount gripped the attention of the world, 97,488 chads were punched in his favour.

The trauma of Mr Gore's defeat in 2000 led to the creation of a "Repentant Nader voter" website, on which disconsolate Democrats confessed to voting for a candidate who had no chance of winning.

While Democrats have never forgiven him for splitting the liberal vote, Mr Nader refuses to accept that his candidacy may have handed the presidency to George W Bush.

"Twelve times more Democrats in Florida voted for George W Bush than voted for the Nader ticket. Gore couldn't even get his home state of Tennessee, which would have made him president. He couldn't get the state of Arkansas. And he didn't do well on the debates."

This time around, he argues, Democrats could defeat him by adopting his message. "What are they complaining about?" he said. "If I'm a danger they can always take my agenda. And if liberals believe that a tongue-tied, timid Democrat can really beat Bush, then they can vote for him."

When Mr Nader does announce his candidacy, he is sure to face a barrage of criticism from Democratic supporters at the hustings. Mr Nader himself has no regrets.

"This country just does not belong to two parties with everyone else having to shut up and get in line," he said.