Reply #9: you're thinking like an informed voter

[ant]

Stop that! ;)

I was reading today that most people still think we found WMD in Iraq and that Saddam was connected to Al-Q somehow, so it's quite clear we're dealing with an incredibly ignorant public. Most people only have fuzzy concepts of the candidates and really don't know enough to label them, unless they come with a party label already attached. Kerry is a Democrat, and that probably hurts him with typical conservatives turning away from Bush. Nader, on the other hand, is known as a consumer advocate, and beyond that people don't really know the details. I would guess people tend to view or remember his as slightly nonpartisan, probably rather credible, etc., so they hear his name and go for it.

Then again, even for those who know his politics and disagree with them, it could just be a protest vote. They know Nader's not going to win but just don't want to vote for a Democrat (as opposed to Kerry specifically) over Bush, so they opt for Nader.