Why Ralph Nader is Irrelevant to an Obama Candidacy

[Bullet1987]

If Obama gets the nomination...I find it hard to believe Nader will get the kind of traction he did in 2000. The reason Nader was a factor is because Gore ran on the dying 50%+1 strategy. Say Obama makes Kathleen Sebelius, the moderate Dem Govenor from red state Kansas, his VP. Obama is already strong in the midwest...he could pick up enough red states to create enough of a buffer to where a Nader wouldn't make much of a difference. The reason he did in 2000 is because the Dems ran a bad plan...as they did in 2004. It's the same dumb strategy that Clinton seems to also be running. You force yourself to put all your hopes on one swing state. That's when things like Diebold and Nader become BIG factors.

[liberalnurse]

1. Who are you trying to fool?

He may indeed garner the Independent white male voter for beginners. Indeed, it will make an impact.

[SoFlaJet]

2. how about you Nurse

will YOU support Nader over Obama?

[liberalnurse]

5. Hillary Clinton is my candidate. I already voted early in Ohio.

[SoFlaJet]

6. and what happens when she loses?

and you're left with Obama, McCain and Nader-who then? Be honest now...

[liberalnurse]

7. Honestly, she is going to WIN.

I have no doubts what so ever. Hillary will be our Democratic Nominee.


http://www.wdtn.com/global/video/popup/pop_player.asp?clipId1=2225248&at1=Political&vt1=v&h1=Clinton+Rallies+Support+In+The+Miami+Valley&d1=144167&redirUrl=www.wdtn.com&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=&playerVersion=1&hostPageUrl=http%3A//www.wdtn.com/global/video/popup/pop_playerLaunch.asp%3FclipId1%3D2225248%26at1%3DPolitical%26vt1%3Dv%26h1%3DClinton+Rallies+Support+In+The+Miami+Valley%26d1%3D144167%26redirUrl%3Dwww.wdtn.com%26activePane%3Dinfo%26LaunchPageAdTag%3Dhomepage%26clipFormat%3D&rnd=85893591

[THUNDER HANDS]

8. do you practice faith-based medicine too?

;)

[SoFlaJet]

9. OK, but just imagine in your wildest nightmare scenario

she doesn't-what THEN?

[suston96]

13. There may be 10 other presidentials on the ballot. We had 26 on the primary ballot in AZ. nt.

[suston96]

14. There may be 10 other presidentials on the ballot. We had 26 on the primary ballot in AZ. nt.

DP. Please delete.

[Coexist]

3. the idependent white male voter? er... no, not really

they are more of the "mushy middle" than the left environmentalist - the Nader voters would be more Green Party people.

[catgirl]

15. No, the Green Party people disowned him in '84

He's viewed as a lunatic now. And he won't be popular with the media either.

[Stuckinthebush]

11. Not a chance

Independent white males don't much care for what they see as Nader's leftist positions.

The IWM would be likely to go to McCain, especially if Hillary is the nominee.

[Bullet1987]

16. If he takes Indie votes...he takes them from McCain as well...

not just Obama.

[scheming daemons]

4. Simpler than that.....

0.38% of the vote in 2004.


That's one of every 300 voters.


THAT'S why he's irrelevant.

[Ravy]

10. Nader gets republican money to woo otherwise Democratic voters.

If Obama is counting on winning red states, they are bound be close just because they are red. And the Nader votes may be the difference in them.

[RichGirl]

12. I agree...Nader is totally irrelevant.

The only thing he will do is get people to the polls who otherwise would have stayed home.

In 2000 I think there were lots of people who voted for him who would have voted for Gore, had he not run. I don't think that's the case this time. We know now how damaging a vote for him can be and anyone who uses their vote to make a statement (and what exactly was that statement?) is an idiot.

The sad thing about Nader is that if he had not run in 2000 he would be one of the most respected, admired and influential people among democrats. He could have swayed elections with his endorsement and influenced a democratic president.