Let's hear it for "Ralphy Baby!" Just what the Dem candidate needs.
During a low-key interview with ABC News in a quiet café in Washington, D.C.'s Dupont Circle, Ralph Nader said he remains committed to getting his message out amid the current candidate cacophony — and remains tight-lipped about whether or not he'll mount a bid in 2004.
"The voters need more choice. There need to be candidates who are willing to push an agenda even if they don't get a majority of the vote," Nader said.
He also remains defiantly contemptuous of the 2000 spoiler moniker: "It's clear Gore beat Gore. He lost his home state, he lost Clinton's home state. The Democrats beat themselves."
In recent weeks, Nader has appeared at several fund-raisers (alas, no sign of Tim Robbins or Eddie Vedder), formed a presidential exploratory committee to "test the waters" (LINK), and launched a Web site (http://naderexplore04.org) to raise money and get feedback from supporters. Nader says he will make his final decision sometime in January — though he is cagey about exactly when.
"The beginning of January?"
"No."
"The end of January?"
"January."
Greens appear to generally support another Nader run, though some suggest he should sit this one out (LINK or LINK). Scott McLarty, the Greens' media coordinator, said most Greens welcome another Nader candidacy.
"He's a nationally famous person. He's a real hero," McLarty said. But he cautions that this time around Nader would have to compete for the nomination, which will not to decided until the party's June nominating convention in Milwaukee.
abcnews.go.com |
