Ralph Nader announced his fourth independent bid for the presidency Sunday morning and is already engaged in some verbal sparring with Democratic front-runner Sen. Barack Obama.
Nader, who almost single-handedly organized and spearheaded the consumer rights movement in the United States, has become something of a political outcast since his 2000 presidential bid where he won 97,000 votes in the state of Florida – and Al Gore lost the state, and thus the presidency by 537 votes.
Nader defended himself against accusations of having been a “spoiler” in that election during an appearance on Meet the Press.
“You know, I wish we’d have Al Gore on this program someday … and ask him, ‘Why did you not become president in 2000?’” Nader, 73, said. “And I think what he’s going to tell you is he thought he did win Florida, but it was taken from him before, during and after the election from Tallahassee.”
Obama first commented on Nader’s run on Saturday. “He seems to have a pretty high opinion of his own work,” he said.
“Historically, he is a singular figure in American politics and has done as much as just about anybody on behalf of consumers,” Obama said. “So in many ways he is a heroic figure, and I don’t mean to diminish him. But I do think there is a sense now that if somebody is not hewing to the Ralph Nader agenda, then you must be lacking in some way.”
Nader responded Sunday saying that Obama is “a person of substance” but his “better instincts and his knowledge have been censored by himself.”
“He was pro-Palestinian when he was in Illinois before he ran for the state Senate” and while he was a state senator, Nader said of Obama. “Now he’s, he’s supporting the Israeli destruction of the tiny section called Gaza with a million and a half people.”
Sen. Hillary Clinton, who in June 2007 Nader said “doesn’t even have the minimal political fortitude of her husband,” appeared to have been informed by reporters of Nader’s announcement.
“Well, you know his being on the Green Party prevented Al Gore from being the greenest president we’ve ever had,” Clinton said. “And I think that’s really unfortunate.”
University student Andrew Plambeck, a College Democrat, was skeptical of the impact Nader can have this year regardless of whether Clinton or Obama is the Democratic nominee.
“I really don’t think he’s going to have much sway either way in this election,” Plambeck said.
He said Obama has “barricaded himself from Nader’s sway” by reaching out to “independent and leftist” elements in the party and making them feel a part of the Democrat’s big tent.
Plambeck said he thought Nader would run if Clinton was the nominee, but was surprised to see him throw himself into the fray while Obama has the lead.
“That says to me that it may not be about the cause but more about him trying to get back into the public eye after being dormant for a few years,” he said.
Student Jesse Hough, co-director of the Survival Center and former co-director of OSPIRG, which Nader helped found, said he agrees with Nader on many issues.
“I don’t know if it’s helpful for the cause or for the people he’s trying to help,” Hough said of another Nader run.