Bloomberg Says Nader Has Right To Run

By: Vaughn Ververs
Topics: Michael Bloomberg

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose aides and advisers have openly discussed plans for a possible independent candidacy for the billionaire, dismissed suggestions that third-party candidates could play a spoiler role in November.

Asked about fears among some Democrats that a candidacy by Ralph Nader could harm their party's nominee in the fall, Bloomberg told reporters, "this business of Ralph Nader being a spoiler -- you know, in any three-way race, two of the three are going to be spoilers. … Everybody's got a right to do it -- you're not spoiling anything. … If people want to vote for you, let them vote for you, and why shouldn't they?" he added, according to the AP.

Bloomberg publicly says he is not a candidate but he – and his ability to pour the kind of money such a campaign would require – have spurred constant buzz over the past months about his plans. Asked if it was too late to launch such a candidacy, Bloomberg displayed some deep knowledge of the ballot access process, saying, "it's getting close to being too late. It would take a lot of money, which Ralph Nader doesn't have, to get on all the ballots ... some states make it difficult, some states make it easier."

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by nadernation1 February 27, 2008 11:24 AM EST: I believe an effective smear campaign , the biggest and most ruthless of all time was perpetrated on Ralph Nader back in 2000 and presently. He is being portrayed as an egocentric selfish spoiler when all he wants, like the rest of us is Freedom. We can dismiss Nader as an idiot or get smart and listen to all the sides of discussions without banning or ostrasizing him or anyone for that matter from the debates. Don''t forget, you have to be rich to run. Lets give everyone a platform and get some real issues in the mix. Not the same old empty promises. Nader will deliver, he has proven that before the 2000 smear campaign. Don''t you think Corporate America fears him? Don''t be a Nader Hater! Get out there and make a difference in this world and get involved. Don''t just be a negative Nancy. Peace. Abolish War!; Reply to this comment


by nadernation1 February 27, 2008 11:06 AM EST: I believe an effective smear campaign , the biggest and most ruthless of all time was perpetrated on Ralph Nader back in 2000 and presently. He is being portrayed as an egocentric selfish spoiler when all he wants, like the rest of us is Freedom. We can dismiss Nader as an idiot or get smart and listen to all the sides of discussions without banning or ostrasizing him or anyone for that matter from the debates. Don''t forget, you have to be rich to run. Lets give everyone a platform and get some real issues in the mix. Not the same old empty promises. Nader will deliver, he has proven that before the 2000 smear campaign. Don''t you think Corporate America fears him? Don''t be a Nader Hater! Get out there and make a difference in this world and get involved. Don''t just be a negative Nancy. Peace. Abolish War!; Reply to this comment


by nadernation1 February 27, 2008 10:59 AM EST: I believe an effective smear campaign , the biggest and most ruthless of all time was perpetrated on Ralph Nader back in 2000 and presently. He is being portrayed as an egocentric selfish spoiler when all he wants, like the rest of us is Freedom. We can dismiss Nader as an idiot or get smart and listen to all the sides of discussions without banning or ostrasizing him or anyone for that matter from the debates. Don''t forget, you have to be rich to run. Lets give everyone a platform and get some real issues in the mix. Not the same old empty promises. Nader will deliver, he has proven that before the 2000 smear campaign. Don''t you think Corporate America fears him? Don''t be a Nader Hater! Get out there and make a difference in this world and get involved. Don''t just be a negative Nancy. Peace. Abolish War!; Reply to this comment


by douglasrh February 26, 2008 10:22 AM EST: And many Iraqis (on the order of 1/2 million) and American soldiers (many tens of thousands) would be alive and well today, who are dead or maimed, if Bush were not in the White House. Obviously, Nader is partly responsible for this (if he did not take the actions he did, Bush would not have been elected /QED). His refusal to accept responsibility and his continued manipulation of electoral politics for his personal whims and gain must be measured against whatever good he may or may not have done as a consumer advocate.; Reply to this comment


by jkonstenius February 26, 2008 5:38 AM EST: I think anybody should be able run. He makes allot of legitimate arguments. Many of the ideas he brings up will not be addressed by a Democratic candidate. Even when I voted for Harry Browne I still listened to Nader and felt as though his exclusion from the debates was unfair. In this years election I will probably vote for McCain for his non-isolationist low tax platform. I think the popular Democrats drive people to Nader.

Jeremy G. Konstenius
Independent Libertarian Voter; Reply to this comment


by notbuynit February 25, 2008 10:42 PM EST: He does have a right to run, just like I do (but I won''t since I have no money and there are plenty of nekkid pictures of me on the internet.

:); Reply to this comment


by sebtree February 25, 2008 10:24 PM EST: Ralph Hasn''t been hiding anywhere the last 8 years. He''s been out there making speeches, doing interviews and writing articles and has written at least three books in the last 6 years. Also he writes weekly commentary at www.nader.org .The better question is where has the Press been, where have the "Talking Heads" been. And the population is too busy being entertained and watching Sporting events to get involved, they take the easy route and don''t THINK DEEP, settling instead for for snippets and quick slogans. Knowing what'' s going on takes work, in a Corporate controlled State.
Thank you Ralph, for all the good things you''ve done to protect the PEOPLE of this Country. Amazing how quickly they forget, or perhaps they just don''t know. Almost everyone''s lives, or that of friends and relatives of theirs, has been improved and made safer because of you, Some wouldn''t be alive today, if not for Ralph Nader! Their minds have been intentionly bombarded with with Corporate propaganda and the Democrat Party scapegoating machine. Obama and Clinton should be ashamed of their comments regarding you. They continue DNC myth. thank you for your great and continued service to your fellow Countrymen. More power to your ideas. www.votenader.org. And by the way, Happy Birthday!.....All the rest of you, buckle-up; Reply to this comment