We interrupt this moratorium on all Nader-related news to share this encouraging update.
Ralph Nader continued his long and much-maligned march to win the White House Monday night with an impromptu convention in Portland designed to collect the 1,000 voter signatures necessary to qualify for Oregon’s November presidential ballot.
The tactic failed, but aides said he would try again.
A total of 741 people came to the downtown Roseland Theater to sign the petitions — 259 fewer than those the veteran consumer advocate needed to qualify for the Oregon ballot, said state Elections Director John Lindback.
Keep in mind, Nader enjoyed more support in Oregon in 2000 than almost any state. It was nearly enough to give Bush the state’s seven electoral votes (Gore won by just 0.4%). And now he can’t get enough people to show up to even get his name on the ballot.
The next step is trying to collect 15,000 signatures over a three-month period, but let’s not forget, last night’s gathering was supposed to be the easy way onto the ballot.
Noting that the Men’s NCAA championship game was on TV last night, the AP account included this amusing paragraph:
“The ball game, it had to be the ball game,” Nader muttered as he climbed a stairway leading to the stage.
The idea of a dejected Nader “muttering” to himself as he tries to comprehend why he’s unpopular brings a smile to my face.
Sure, it was only one failed event in one state, but last night’s showing for Nader is another reason I believe his support this year is already exaggerated and has no where to go but down.