So Nader wants to run? Let him.

[Tatiana]

After what transpired in 2000, there was a lot of venom thrown toward Nader and his supporters. Many (such as Michael Moore) regret it and have encouraged voting for Dems in crucial general elections. With every threat Nader makes, he lowers his political capital just a bit.

Think about it... Who in their right mind will publicly support this guy? Who will give him the cash he needs to fund a third-party candidacy?

This thing is not going to come down to Florida or Ohio. But if we can't win by a large enough margin in the general election to render someone like Ralph Nader "insignificant," then we haven't learned the lessons of 2000 and 2004.

Ralph Nader is only as powerful as we make him. Obama's response was correct. This is about Nader's ego. We appreciate everything that he has done on behalf of consumers as well as any other pertinent input he is willing to share. Next.

P.S. Though I don't attach a lot of significance to Nader's (possible) candidacy, I do think it's smart to take a good look at who is supporting him:

http://www.draftnader.org/

http://www.votenader.org/

[beyurslf]

1. Yawn. Him again?

[SoFlaJet]

2. The first thing that came to my mind Tatiana

is all the disgruntled Clinton supporters I've been reading here, who say they WON'T vote for Obama

[Tatiana]

14. I think they will vote for the Democrat (much as some may protest otherwise)

Nader may get a small portion of those voters, but I don't think he'll get any large numbers.

Like Obama said, it's our job as a party to persuade voters to vote for us. He's correct. Honestly, the people who vote for Nader aren't likely to vote for a Democrat anyway. Most of the people I talked to in 2000 told me that if Nader hadn't run, they would have filled in a write-in candidate - NOT voted for Gore.

[suston96]

3. Republicans will finance Nader - again.......Think abut it.....nt

[scheming daemons]

11. They can barely finance their OWN candidate... they don't have left over cash for Nader...

....

[Tatiana]

13. The dynamics are different this time. McCain is having a tough time raising money.

This isn't Bush and McCain isn't sitting on a nest of "Rangers."

They are going to have to sink a lot money into McCain's candidacy, which leaves very little to be spent on Nader.

[Selatius]

4. Corporate executives and their friends will probably throw a shitload of money at Ralph.

Get him on the ballot in heavily contested swing states like Florida and Ohio. Swing the Electoral College, and you swing the White House, even if the Dems win the popular vote. Of course, this is predicated upon the notion that Ralph would accept money from predatory lenders on Wall Street and notoriously anti-labor executives in companies like Wal-Mart or Starbucks.

[Mabus]

5. I saw one from my hometown

Dick Severywhere - Lawrence, Kansas -

[Name removed]

6. Deleted message

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[Guava Jelly]

8. You must hate it here

big :hug:

[sabbat hunter]

12. you might as well vote for

McCain, because that is who you will wind up with as president.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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[Liberal Dose]

10. hahaha I did too gmta

[Liberal Dose]

9. Who will give him the cash? Same group who did it last time! REPUBLICANS nt

[RestoreGore]

15. I agree... but isn't the presidential race in general about ego? n/t