The Dems are fighting Nader tooth and fang.
Arizona Democrats File Challenge to Nader
By JACQUES BILLEAUD, Associated Press Writer
PHOENIX - Two Arizona voters on Wednesday filed the first Democratic challenge to independent Ralph Nader (news - web sites)'s bid to get on a state's November presidential ballot.
Reuters
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The Democrats alleged that more than 70 percent of the 21,500 petition signatures recently filed for Nader are invalid, the Arizona Democratic Party said. Nader needs 14,694 valid signatures to get on Arizona's ballot.
Democrats Dorothy Schultz and Betty Elizabeth Hughes also alleged in the complaint that some of those who circulated petitions for Nader didn't meet residency requirements and other qualifications, the party said. Several are prohibited from gathering signatures because they are convicted felons, according to the party.
"If (Nader) is going to be on the ballot, it has to be in a legitimate way," said Arizona Democratic Chairman Jim Pederson.
The party, which under state law can't file the challenge in its name, said it supports the two voters' effort.
Nader spokesman Kevin Zeese dismissed the complaint, which was filed in state court.
"I don't think it's a very credible challenge," he said.
Pederson said the party had informed Democrat John Kerry (news - web sites)'s campaign about the lawsuit.
"They said, 'You're on your own,' basically," but did not try to stop it, he said.
Allison Dobson, a Kerry spokeswoman, defended the action by saying rules must be followed.
"The Democratic Party has a right to make to sure that those rules are being followed and that the law is met," she said. "We're abiding by them and it's only fair that others abide by them, too."
Many Democrats blame Nader, a Green Party presidential candidate four years ago, for taking away liberal votes from Democrat Al Gore (news - web sites) and helping ensure President Bush (news - web sites)'s victory.
Nader's campaign blames the U.S. Supreme Court (news - web sites) and an inept Gore campaign.
In any event, Nader didn't siphon enough votes from Gore to overcome Bush's lead in Arizona. Even if Nader's 45,000 votes had gone to Gore, Bush would still have beaten the Democratic nominee by 50,000 votes.
Democrats said the dynamics of this election are different.
Arizona, long viewed as a Republican stronghold, elected Democrats for governor and attorney general in 2002, and polls show a close race between Bush and Kerry. Both parties also are paying more attention to the state than in the past.
Democrats fear Nader could give Bush an edge in Arizona if he is allowed to chip off some of their support.
Nader is not yet on any state ballot. He has been endorsed by the national Reform Party, which has ballot lines in seven states, including the battlegrounds of Florida and Michigan. He also is seeking the endorsement of the Green Party, which has secured ballot access in 22 states and the District of Columbia.
His campaign said he expects to appear on the ballot in 45 states.
Last month, Nader filed a lawsuit in Texas to try to compete there, alleging a petition signature requirement is unconstitutional. |
