June 18, 2009 6:20 PM

Is Nader Planning Another Run?

(AP)  Ralph Nader could be poised for another third party presidential campaign.

The consumer advocate will appear on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. Nader launched his 2004 presidential run on the show.

A spokesman for Nader did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Kevin Zeese, who was Nader's spokesman during the 2004 presidential race, but is no longer working for him, said Friday that Nader has been actively talking to "lots of people on all sorts of levels" about the possibility of making another run.

Zeese said he could only guess what Nader might do, but added: "Obviously, I don't think ("Meet the Press" host) Tim Russert would have him on for no reason."

Last month, Nader began an exploratory presidential campaign and launched a Web site that promises to fight "corporate greed, corporate power, corporate control."

Nader's appearance on "Meet the Press" was announced Friday in an e-mail message from Nader's exploratory campaign. The message from "The Nader Team" urges supporters to tell friends and family to watch the show and requests online contributions.

"As you know, we've been exploring the possibilities in recent weeks," the message says.

Nader is still loathed by many Democrats who call him a spoiler and claim his candidacy in 2000 cost Democrats the election by siphoning votes away from Al Gore in a razor-thin contest in Florida. Nader has vociferously disputed the spoiler claim, saying only Democrats are to blame for losing the race to George W. Bush.

Though he won 2.7 percent of the national vote as the Green Party candidate in 2000, Nader won just 0.3 percent as an independent in 2004, when he appeared on the ballot in only 34 states.

Nader was forced to fight dozens of court battles over ballot access in 2004, as Democrats pressed legal challenges over whether he gained enough legitimate signatures to get his name on the ballot.

Democratic National Committee spokeswoman Stacie Paxton declined to discuss how the party would respond to another Nader candidacy.

"The Democratic Party represents the change the American people are looking for and I'm confident we'll put a Democrat back in the White House in November," Paxton said.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Add a Comment See all 105 Comments
by candide777 February 24, 2008 4:47 PM EST
It''s too bad. He had a very distinguished career, but senility is really setting in now. Someone close to him ought to sit him down and say, "Ralph, do you want to be remembered for what you did to help American consumers, or do you want to be remembered as a foolish old man who spoiled the U.S. Supreme Court and ruined any hope the American people had of ever taking back their government from the greedy corporations now running it?"

Know when to say "when," Ralph.
Reply to this comment
by hbevis February 24, 2008 4:21 PM EST
WELL IF HE COMES OUT WITH A THIRD PARTY TICKET, IT WILL BE TO HELP CLINTON WIN THE WHITE HOUSE. SINCE NO ONE IN THERE RIGHT MIND WOULD THINK THEY HAD ANY CHANCE AT ALL OF A THIRD PARTY WINNING THIS ELECTION.
Reply to this comment
by b-easy63 February 24, 2008 4:06 PM EST
ou pathetic idiots. Nader is running because the Democratic Party abandoned you long ago.


Posted by mh4cbs1

Spoken by a true blue ''''Blood Sucking'''' Republican!!!!!

Posted by grumpas at 08:40 AM : Feb 23, 2008


You might be right that mh4cbs1 is a Republican and the remarks were spoken by that person--but they ring true nonetheless. You can lambast the messenger or heed the msg--we have no friends or champions in Washington.
Reply to this comment
by b-easy63 February 24, 2008 4:02 PM EST
How about if Ralph Nader picks Ron Paul to be his VP running mate

I''''ve seen a lot of people on these forums wanting a third choice

Here''''s your chance




Posted by mocaIeo at 10:11 AM : Feb 23, 2008


Yep. Then RAlph and Ron could combine their .02% and .03% respectively.....
Reply to this comment
by b-easy63 February 24, 2008 4:00 PM EST
He was! In the likeness of our flesh but without sin, Jesus walked among us! He understands what we are going through!

Posted by pilgrimsway at 11:08 AM : Feb 23, 2008


In a way he was--but in a huge way, he was not. We start out having to believe in something sight unseen, many with no proof , other than a heartfelt conviction--God is an abstract we make real through faith. For Jesus--he knew who he was--got lots of miracles and knew who his Father was.

Imagine how many more believers if loud booming voices came from a dove and said "This is my Son, of whom I am well pleased" or anything for that matter.

It is like the edge a rich man has pretending to be poor for a week, but deep down, knowing what it is like to be rich and knowing after the pretense is over he will be rich again--such a person would have a very different outlook, belief, and optimism and hope than a person who was born in poverty, never had much luck and all they had ever known was that.

So, even when I pray--I do think about the fact, that Jesus was so much more fortunate than many of us--like many humans--he could only die once--but unlike many of us--he had proof without a doubt who his father was and where he was headed--our own proof is predicated not by experience (like Jesus had) or memories (like Jesus had) or many miracles (like Jesus had)--all we have is a belief in Jesus and his Father.
Reply to this comment
by b-easy63 February 24, 2008 3:52 PM EST
What the fvck is wrong with his face? It looks as if all the contaminants he ranted against for years, came home to roost in his cheeks!!!!
Reply to this comment
by eddynewhope February 24, 2008 3:16 PM EST
Pilgrimsway - What are you so afraid of? Who exactly is the "radical muslim" in the White House? Wow friend - turn off your TV, go for a walk, and ask yourself: "what am I so scared of?" You are reciting the worst of the GOP''s fear tactics that they have used to keep American''s quiet and docile: "The terrorists will getcha!", "Danger threat ORANGE!", "Credible threat..." Yada yada yada. Don''t buy that garbage. You''re doing Bush/Cheney/Rove''s bidding by carrying their message of fear (terrorism in itself) with you to the voting booth.
Reply to this comment
by brign1 February 24, 2008 2:48 PM EST
Nader was instrumental in electing George W. eight years ago. In close state races, he can again give the Republican nominee the edge. A Republican plant couldn''t be more appreciated by the Republican Party than Nader.
For more on this, read:
http://www.reflectivepundit.com/reflectivepundit/2008/02/ralph-nader-han.html
Reply to this comment
by leeellak February 24, 2008 1:48 PM EST
Yes!

With everyone worried about paying their bills, it''s great that a consumer advocate run for president. We need someone that truly believes in controlling lobbyists.

Our Congress and President made it more difficult for the consumer by signing into law the 2005 Bankruptcy Reform Act. The credit card companies won that one.

I should clarify that Hillary did not vote on the 2005 Bankruptcy act. Bill was sick so she took care of her loyal husband, 300 million consumers be damned.

Just think of the happy, gleeful face of the lobbyists for the credit card companies when your Congress and President jammed down that 2005 Bankruptcy Reform Act down your throat!

Credit cards, with 31% default rates, ruined many a family. When you%u2019re struggling to make payments, what do they do? They jack you up with HIGHER interest rates. They call when you are trying to have dinner with the ones you love. These credit card companies should lower or eliminate the interest rate to you--you don''t need more people on your back!

In the last 5 years: record home foreclosures, unaffordable housing, tougher bankruptcy laws, IRS taxing phantom profits on some loan forgiveness, 31% default rates on credit cards, doubling of mortgage payments with ARM''s, Democrats promising increased taxes, and both parties spending like drunken sailors.

Recent story--biggest contributors to both the Democrat and Republican campaigns were financial institutions. Oh, oh!

Lee Ellak
San Jose, CA
Reply to this comment
by bobacorn February 24, 2008 1:31 PM EST
Nader should get rid of his liberal mask and finally expose his real self - he is a Republican.

Posted by aj4321

Nader has exposed himself. He has exposed himself as a squirrel on crack. He should call his party - the Old Nut Party. He is crazy if he thinks that Bush=Gore or that McCain=Obama. What an egotistical jerk.
Reply to this comment
See all 105 Comments
.
Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
CBS News on Facebook