Bernell DorroughDespite receiving criticism for being a “spoiler” of Al Gore’s presidential race in 2000, Ralph Nader has announced that he will once again run for office in the 2004 elections. The decision, made official by Nader himself on NBC News’ Sunday edition of “Meet the Press,” does not come as a total surprise to either the Democrats or Republicans. Nevertheless, Nader’s announcement has caused a great deal of disappointment and frustration amongst top Democratic party circles.
Many political experts are predicting a very close election in 2004. Because of the possibility that this fall’s election may be decided by a relative handful of votes, as in the 2000 presidential race, leading Democrats have branded Nader with the nickname the “spoiler.” Nader denounces this tag, calling it contemptuous and unwarranted.
Gary Miller, a political science professor at Washington University, expresses similar beliefs about Nader’s potential impact on the 2004 elections.
“The Nader votes in Florida made the difference for Bush in 2000,” said Miller. “It is certainly possible that they will have the same effect in 2004.”
In the case of another close race, Nader’s presence could affect the outcome, even if he only receives half of the 2.7% of the national vote he received in the last election. Although some top Democrats believe Nader’s decision to run might indirectly result in a re-election victory for President Bush, few believe Nader will receive as many votes as he did in 2000.
Senior Kelly Mesa, president of the University’s College Republicans, does not think that Nader’s presence in the race will have any noticeable impact on the election results.
“Since [the 2000 race] was so close, people will be very careful when they’re going through the voting process,” said Mesa. “They will take their vote seriously, knowing that their individual vote really will make a difference.”
Nader has decided not to seek the Green Party’s nomination and will instead run as an Independent candidate. According to University Professor of Political Science James Davis, this could have a negative effect on Nader’s election results.
“Nader will probably receive fewer votes than last election because he lacks the Green Party’s backing and Democrats are uniting against him,” said Davis.
On Sunday’s “Meet the Press,” Nader stated that he fails to see why Democrats are denouncing his decision to run.
“There are conservatives who are furious with Bush over the deficit, over corporate subsidies, over corporate pornography directed toward children, over the Patriot Act, over many other issues,” said Nader. “There are liberal Republicans who see their party taken away from them…They may be looking for an Independent candidacy. There are a hundred million non-voters that no one has figured out how to bring back into the electoral system, which I want to try to do.”
Davis disagrees with Nader’s assumptions about disillusioned Republicans.
“He will get some independent votes because he is an independent candidate,” said Davis. “I agree that some Republicans are upset with the Bush administration, but they will be upset enough to stay home, not vote for Ralph Nader.”
Some political analysts feel that Nader will be taking more votes from the Democratic candidate than from President Bush.
Miller predicted that the more moderate of the prospective Democratic candidates would suffer most from Nader’s decision to run.
“My guess would be that John Kerry would be more affected than John Edwards,” said Miller. “I am just not sure how well Kerry will fair in the long run. I think his support might grow weak with time, allowing Nader to take more votes from him.”
Despite the controversy surrounding his decision, 70-year-old Nader promised on “Meet the Press” that he will be active on the campaign trail and stick to his policy of denouncing Washington for being “a corporate-occupied territory” and admonishing the abundance of “‘For Sale’ sign[s] on almost every door of agencies and departments where these corporations dominate and they put their appointments in high office.”
The exact effect Nader’s presence as an Independent candidate will have on this fall’s election results is debatable, but Nader has established himself as a viable alternative to the traditional party candidates. His multiple candidacies prove that American democracy is open to minority political views and not completely controlled by a two-party political machine.