Seriously, Nader?
Posted by Shannon on February 26, 2008
He’s back.
Ralph Nader, never one to shy away from the limelight of a political season, has announced that he is going to run as an independent for president. Nader all but cost Al Gore the win in 2000 and ran again in 2004, but this time around the 74-year old could be over stepping it just a little bit.
I’ve often believed that this election would have been one that an independent candidate could have done well. However, independent voters are taken care of with the nomination of John McCain for the Republicans and likely Barack Obama for the Democrats. Though, Obama has his own issues, like putting meat behind his statements. (Then again, all the politicians this time around need a little more meat on understanding their policies.)
But, Nader comes in as a man only concerned with himself. Sure, he has the right to run for president as an independent, but he has as much chance winning in November as I do at getting Jennifer Love Hewitt to say hello to me. It’s not going to happen, no matter how much you wish it would.
Moving along, Nader will get on the ballot in a few states and will take a few of the far, far, far, far, far left vote away from Obama, but will that be enough to make a difference in the election? It could, even though Democratic leaders are saying otherwise. Though, the fact this is Nader’s third run at the presidency all but eliminates any value he would have as a nominee. Once you’ve lost twice, in politics, you’re pretty much eliminated from future consideration. Also, consider that as an independent your appeal is strongest in your first go around, and lessens there after. Think of Ross Perot who kept President Bush from a second term in 1992, but his run in 1996 was far from the same success.
Nader will be lucky to pick up a couple of percentage points in the popular vote. Here’s to hoping that Nader will not run.
