Nader, Barr, Phillies trying for NH prez ballot
CONCORD, N.H.—Third-party candidates Ralph Nader and Bob Barr are working to beat a deadline to qualify for New Hampshire's presidential ballot as alternatives to Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama.
Nader spokesman Chris Driscoll said Tuesday the campaign has gathered about 3,000 signatures of registered voters and hopes to have 6,000 by the Aug. 6 deadline to submit them to town checklist supervisors.
The third-party presidential candidates need 3,000 certified signatures -- 1,500 from each congressional district -- to qualify for the ballot. The Secretary of State's office must receive the certified signatures by Sept. 3.
"We're doing everything we can to ensure we are on the ballot," said Driscoll.
Barr's national media spokeswoman, Audrey Mullen, said the former Republican-turned-Libertarian congressman from Georgia also expects to have the necessary signatures by the deadline.
"We absolutely are going to be on the ballot," said Mullen.
The Secretary of State's office said Libertarian George Phillies may be the third-party candidate closest to being certified. Phillies, of Worcester, Mass., needs about 130 more signatures from the 2nd Congressional District to qualify.
Driscoll said Nader's goal is to be on the ballot in 45 states and so far has qualified in about 15 states.
"We're in the crunch time now because a whole slew of other states are coming up now (with deadlines)," he said.
Barr was in New Hampshire on Tuesday for private meetings and a public meet-and-greet event in Manchester, but the campaign stop could not compete for attention with McCain's Town Hall session the same day in Rochester.
UNH pollster Andrew Smith said Barr's biggest challenge -- if he gets on the ballot -- may be pulling some of those voters away from McCain, especially conservative Republicans and independents.
"I don't see how Barr can have much of an impact up here," said Smith. "People don't know who he is."
Republican Party Chairman Fergus Cullen said he had not heard from any activists about Barr's effort to qualify for the ballot.
"I have not heard reports of anyone gathering signatures on his behalf," said Cullen.
Smith believes the better-known Nader is much more likely to draw votes from Obama.
Though it is months to the election, Smith believes the votes to win New Hampshire's four electoral votes will be very close. The separation between victory and defeat may be a percentage point or two, he said.
That is where Nader could hurt Obama, he said.
Nader is still loathed by many Democrats who blame his candidacy for costing Al Gore the election in 2000. They believe Nader siphoned votes from Gore in Florida, which was awarded to George Bush in the razor-thin contest. Nader says Democrats are to blame for losing the race.
Nader won 2.7 percent of the national vote as a Green Party candidate that year. In 2004, he won just 0.3 percent as an independent when he appeared on the ballot in only 34 states.
Barr is a fiery former GOP congressman who gained national prominence for doggedly pursuing President Clinton's impeachment. Some Republicans fear he will do to McCain what Nader did to Gore -- siphon off enough votes in close states to tilt the outcome.
Barr said the unchecked growth in government led him to leave the Republican Party.
