Ralph Nader Answers Critics Who Say His Presidential Bid Could Help Re-Elect George Bush

Interview with Ralph Nader, independent presidential candidate, conducted by Scott Harris

As the 2004 presidential election approaches, opinion polls suggest that with an extremely tight race between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry, independent candidate Ralph Nader could again influence the outcome of the campaign. In the aftermath of the 2000 election, which saw numerous flaws in the Florida vote count and a razor-thin margin between Al Gore and George W. Bush, many Democrats blame Nader for their eventual loss at the hands of a Supreme Court decision.

After Nader announced his 2004 candidacy, the Democratic Party leadership made a determined effort to talk him out of another run for the White House. When this failed, hardball tactics were employed to keep him off the ballot in as many states as possible. The two-time Green Party presidential candidate failed this year to win that party's endorsement. Instead, Nader is running under the Reform party banner in some states and as an independent in others.

Critics accuse Nader of accepting campaign contributions from Republican activists who they say are donating funds in an effort to siphon off votes from Sen. Kerry in key battleground states. And although Nader rejects the charge that he will be a spoiler in this election, more than 70 former progressive supporters of the consumer advocate's 2000 campaign have signed a letter urging support for the Kerry/Edwards ticket in swing states in order to defeat George W. Bush. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Ralph Nader, who talks about the goals of his campaign and answers criticism directed at his candidacy from many former allies.

Contact Ralph Nader's campaign at (202) 265-4000 or visit their website at www.votenader.org

Related links:

"Reproaching Ralph: Nader's Bid for President has Failed Utterly to Achieve Any of Its Stated Goals," TomPaine.com, Oct. 13, 2004

"Nader 2000 Leaders Organize To Defeat Bush," www.vote2stopbush.com

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: httC://www.btlonline.org

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