Dean sees Nader support as biggest threat to Kerry

[ECH1969]

NEW YORK -- John F. Kerry's chance of being elected president is perhaps at greatest risk not from President Bush, but third-party candidate Ralph Nader, according to former Kerry rival Howard Dean.

"I think we're in great shape, but we got four months to go," the former Vermont governor said in an interview Friday night before he spoke at a gay and lesbian fund-raiser on behalf of Kerry and the Democratic National Committee. "I think Nader's the biggest problem in the race right now."

Dean, who vaulted to the head of the primary pack with a strong antiwar and outsider campaign, said Nader is a threat to Kerry because the Independent candidate could pull votes from him among a narrowly divided electorate. In the last general election, Nader's vote totals in some states such as Florida were larger than Bush's margin of victory over Democrat Al Gore.

"We're in a position similar to where we were in 2000," Dean said.

In some of his strongest criticism of Nader, Dean also accused the consumer advocate and former Green Party presidential contender of accepting support from the Republicans -- who could benefit from his success -- to advance his candidacy.

"Ralph Nader is taking money from Republicans and he's now got Republicans -- right wingers -- advocating for him.

They've got people with signs for ballot positions in Oregon, which I find is pretty appalling," the former governor said.

Nader has argued that the two-party system has led to a corporate corruption of the political system, and that his candidacy will not affect Kerry's but bring additional voters into the campaign. His spokesman, Kevin Zeese, did not immediately return a call seeking comment on Dean's remarks.

The former governor labeled it "nonsense" to believe that Nader's support does not come at the expense of Kerry.

A Kerry spokesman agreed.

"Anyone who believes a Nader voter would otherwise be voting for George Bush's big-money, big-oil, Halliburton agenda is delusional," said campaign spokesman David Wade.

http://tinyurl.com/yul3w

and Nader appears very unhappy with Dean.
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" disparagement of erstwhile Democratic insurgent Howard Dean. I don't give Dean's rhetoric that much credence. Right now, for example, he is a fierce loyalist for Kerry and against my candidacy"
http://tinylink.com/?scH7yibt0O
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awwwww, poor Nader that big bad Dean guy supports Kerry. For some reason I just can't feel sorry for Nader.

[slinkerwink]

1. Dean rocks!!!

[mzmolly]

4. Yeeeessss he does!

:hi:

[jobycom]

2. Nader may WANT a three party system, but we HAVE a two party system

And he won't change that by wishing, or by running, or by reelecting Bush.

[Monte Carlo]

3. We don't need any more martyrs for the cause, Mr. Nader.

We've already got plenty. We all appreciate the argument that we need at least three major parties in the United States, but at this point in time, we are going to have to focus ourselves just to keep the two. We are talking about the LONG-TERM damage that Bush would do if allowed another 4 years.

I myself voted for Nader in 2000. He spoke about the issues that I cared about. He took on the big monied interests and the hypocrisy in the country. He packed stadiums full of people to hear him speak. People could sense he would bring change. Then, he got 3% of the popular vote. Not again will I vote for him.

[janx]

5. Dean's about to be interviewed on CNN. He might mention this.

I hope that he keeps mentioning it--as many times as it takes.

[Myrina]

6. I usually agree with the good Doctor

but in this case, especially with the Green Party nominating their own candidate and Nader missing the ballot in about 40% of the states thus far .... Dean is sounding whiny and spiteful.

Nader will, at most, snag 20,000 votes nationwide, IMO - about the same as the other 'fringe' candidates, ie Socialists, Communists, Natural Law, etc. Should they all be forced out of the race too ?

Is that the 'Democracy For America' you spoke of Doc ? That lesser parties and candidates be eliminated because they may take a percent or two from your candidate, despite the fact that they qualified to be in the race, they have the funding and the base, and the Constitution allows them to run for President ??

I am disappointed in Dean, lately.

[madfloridian]

7. Did you hear Dean's CNN interview today?

He made the point just as he has several times that Nader is being offered support by the GOP. That is just plain wrong. If he accepts their help in getting on the ballots, and in funding his campaign then he is assisting Bush. It is just that simple.

It is suspected he was funded by Republicans in 2000, at least in part. I don't have proof of that. I compare that to Sharpton's funding by the Republican (was it Roger Stone?) who helped stop the recount in 2000 in Palm Beach.

One is just as bad as the other. Nader is a good man, and Dean has always said so. However, he is very likely to take votes away from Kerry in battleground states again.

Nader has a right to run, Howard Dean has a right to criticize him. It is just that simple. It is just as wrong to criticize Dean for standing up for his rights on this as it is for people to say Nader should not run.

Nader has a right to run. I have a right to tell him please not to run.

[janx]

8. I saw the interview. It was a very good one. Dean was very

strong, very much in control, and near the end he seemed to enjoy himself when asked about the Cheney F-word senate floor fiasco.

It's very good that he's reminding people about the Nader factor. It can only hurt us. We have to figure out a way to defang the thing.

Nader's obviously not happy that Dean keeps reminding voters that a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush. Now Dean is going even farther by revealing that Nader is being supported by the GOP.

I hope Dean mentions this everywhere he goes.

Speaking of which--this interview was live from Chicago. Have you seen any coverage of the Rainbow/PUSH event yet?

[madfloridian]

11. Not one thing about the Rainbow/Push event.

I can not believe they are not showing it on C-Span....or Gore's speech. With this bunch of big-name politicians at the event, plus more listed elsewhere....they should be carrying it.

SNIP..."BILL CLINTON, JOHN KERRY, BILL COSBY, DICK GEPHARDT, HOWARD DEAN, BARACK OBAMA HIGHLIGHT ANNUAL RAINBOW/PUSH & CEF CONFERENCE
CHICAGO (June 16, 2004) – Former president and current author Bill Clinton, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, entertainer/educator Bill Cosby, former presidential candidate and Vermont Governor Howard Dean, Missouri Congressman Dick Gephardt, Chicago Stock Exchange Chairman Valerie Jarrett; Harvard Law School professor Charles Ogletree, Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich, California Congresswoman Barbara Lee, Democratic senatorial candidate Barack Obama and Starbucks Chairman and Chief Global Strategist Howard Schultz are among the dozens of newsmakers scheduled to attend the 33rd Annual Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and Citizenship Education Fund Conference, June 26 - July 1, 2004, at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers......"

http://www.rainbowpush.org/FMPro?-db=RPOfrontpage.fp5&-format=rainbowpush/frontpage/results.htm&-lay=front&constant=1&-find

This stuff with C-Span is worrying me a lot, as they are very right wing heavy now.

[TexasSissy]

9. If Kerry can eek out a comfortable win, it won't matter. And Nader's caree

career will be over.

[janx]

10. That's a very big IF, T.S. Right now things are looking

pretty much even in the polls when you factor in the Nader support. So I hope Dean keeps pounding this idea and urging people away from Nader--and I hope other Dems do the same.