He said neither the Democrats nor the Republicans were addressing the concerns of average Americans. "There's a 'For Sale' sign on almost every door of agencies and departments where these corporations dominate and they put their appointments in high office," he said.
Many Democrats labeled Nader a "spoiler" after Democrat Al Gore lost to Republican George W. Bush in the 2000 election, and yesterday leading Democrats again criticized Nader. Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson fear Nader would hand Bush a reelection victory.
"There are people all over the country wishing he hadn't done it" in 2000, McAuliffe said on CBS's Face the Nation. "They remember the 2000 election, they remember New Hampshire, they remember Florida, and the margins of victories there."
Nader, 69, who was on the ballot in 43 states and the District of Columbia, got 2.7 percent of the vote nationwide but was a deciding factor in Florida and New Hampshire. Nader received 97,488 votes in Florida, which Bush won by 537 votes. In New Hampshire Nader got 22,198 votes, which Bush won by 7,211 votes.
In an interview yesterday with the Inquirer Washington Bureau, Nader said if he were spoiling anyone's chances it would be the Republicans.
"This will enhance the Democrats," said Nader, who added that his voters in 2000 broke down 38 percent Democrats and 25 percent Republicans, with Greens and independents making up the rest.
"Right now, I am persuaded I will draw far more independents and Republicans who would otherwise have voted for Bush than I would get from the Democratic Party candidate," he said. "Conservatives are furious with Bush over deficits, the Patriot Act, corporate subsidies, corporate support of pornography, NAFTA, GATT and sovereignty."
Nader also has promised to focus his attacks on Bush, but warned the eventual Democratic nominee that criticizing his independent candidacy would be met with a response.
