Presidential candidate Ralph Nader was prevented from speaking in Eugene as scheduled Monday because of delays at the Denver airport. Nader’s aide, Greg Kafoury, spoke instead to a disappointed crowd at the McDonald Theatre.
Best known for his presidential campaigns as the Green Party’s nominee, Nader was slated to speak to promote his 2008 Oval Office bid with the Peace Party.
Nader’s flight from New York City to Denver on Frontier Airlines was delayed by a strong headwind, and arrived in Colorado 35 minutes behind schedule. Kafoury said the airline was unwilling to contact the connecting flight to Eugene and ask for a delay to allow Nader to board.
“He and his aide ran for some two miles and missed their flight by four minutes,” Kafoury said.
Upon hearing that Nader would not be speaking, many members of the crowd left the building.
One man yelled, “So much for that!” as he stormed out of the auditorium.
Campaign officials say there are no plans for Nader to speak in Eugene before the Nov. 4 presidential election.
“He’s pretty booked up until the election,” campaign member John Wade said.
Wade said Nader was still likely to speak in Portland on Monday evening because he did catch a flight out of Denver at around 3 p.m.
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