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Nader announces 'Massachusetts Marathon'

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor October 22, 2008 11:05 AM

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader announced today his own version of the Boston Marathon, a sprint across 21 cities and towns from Westfield to Sheffield across Massachusetts on Saturday -- what his campaign says will be the most stops ever in one day by a presidential candidate.

"We’re hoping for a big Nader voter turnout in Massachusetts – where Ralph got his third largest vote total (6.4 percent) in 2000," his campaign said.

Nader also announced that he'll air his first radio ads of the campaign, in 22 markets in 14 states.

In the ad, the long-time consumer activist criticizes the $700 billion bailout for the financial system that both Barack Obama and John McCain voted for as a sop to big corporations.

Nader is on the ballot in 45 states and the District of Columbia, and Nader's campaign said he could be "the deciding factor" in key swing states, including Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, and Colorado. Many Democrats certainly hope not, still blaming Nader for costing Al Gore the presidency in 2000.

Nader also announced today that he'll take part in a debate Thursday night in Washington, D.C., for third-party and other presidential candidates. Free and Equal Elections, the group hosting the debate, said that Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin has also confirmed.

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I'm all for freedom of choice. And I agree with a lot of what Nader has to say. And voters should caste their ballot for the person they believe in. But when I think of where the country could be today if the Great Idiot had not been elected(or stolen the elections - thanks Roberts et al) ... People should take that into consideration when they are inside the voting booth...

Posted by PlumHunter October 22, 08 12:01 PM
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Even if you agree with PlumHunter remember that 37 out of 50 states were "safe" in 2004 and roughly the same number will be safe in 2008. So if you live in such a state, where your vote is made irrelevant by a rigged electoral system that predetermines the outcome before a single vote is cast, please consider voting Nader/Gonzalez - or the minor party or independent candidate with whom you most agree - as the only rational choice in an election in which your vote is otherwise disregarded. Voters should think critically about their role in the process and determine the best way to register their opinion with the people we elect to represent us. Voting for a major party candidate who is already guaranteed to win in a safely "Red" or "Blue" state makes no sense.

Posted by Gene Debs October 22, 08 02:37 PM
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You know Obama will win in Massachusetts. So you can vote with the herd or send a special message to the new President. When you vote for Ralph Nader you want to tell Obama to stop the war at once, stop support for corporate bailouts at the expense of you and your family and to work for a single payer health care system that eliminates the insurance middle men. A vote for Ralph Nader is essential to send the right messages to the President elect in 2008. Change must be progressive change.

Posted by steveconn October 22, 08 02:48 PM
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When you think about the people who don't like neither candidates, roughly 80% of the population, then you will know that Ralph Nader has a great chance this election cycle. Vote for truth, justice, and progress!!

Posted by PRISCILLA PROTASOWICKI October 22, 08 10:36 PM
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ummm... steveconn, those things that you think voting for Nader will bring to Obama's attention? Obama's done nothing but talk about those very issues since the beginning of his campaign. Basically, Nader is like Obama, only white, boring, and has no chance of winning.
Yeah "send a message" by voting for Nader. If you want to make a real difference, vote Obama.

Posted by Joel October 22, 08 10:36 PM
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I don't believe you can really know that we wouldn't have gone to war in Iraq if Gore was President. Consider:

1) The Clinton administration was 1st to say that Saddam had WMD's.

2) Al Gore agreed- look on Youtube for the vid of him stating that as if it were a fact.

3) Many Democrats voted for the war.

4) One of those Democrats was Leiberman, Gore's 2000 running mate! 0.0

Posted by Kevin Wayne October 22, 08 11:10 PM
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Nader is a total egomaniac and a fool and never does anything besides muck things up for the Democrats. Yeah - Bush and Gore sure turned out to be the same right, what an as-----!@##@$@#

Posted by ksmiami October 23, 08 09:27 AM
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Vote for who you like . If you are susceptible to the idea a man of the reasoned , cool , clear , inteligence of a Barack Obama can be fiddled with while the nation trembles in a balance between disaster and worse , whooppee .
If I were your tailor I might leave a little extra room in the seat though .

Posted by theperilouspea October 23, 08 09:45 AM
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Speaking as one of the 2.9 million New Hampshire voters who in 2000 voted for Nader instead of Gore, and consequently handed the election to Bush, I have just three words for you: DON'T DO IT!

Posted by Tim Neeld October 23, 08 09:47 AM
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Be sure and send the following message to Obama by voting for Nader:
Hey, Mr. President, there are plenty of us idiots out here ready to vote for an egomaniacal perrennial candidate who has not figured out that since the Corvair was taken off the market by GM over 40 years ago he has not accimplished a lot.
Unless you consider the Bush presidency a positive.

Posted by ricky October 23, 08 10:13 AM
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Ralph Nader is human waste. He is an egocentric nihilist whose only concern is the inflation of his own worthless self. He cares nothing for the environment, the planet, the nation, or his fellow man. He's a destroyer, pure and simple. It's all about Ralph.

Posted by Andy Lord October 23, 08 10:20 AM
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This guy is no more fit to run this country in crisis than McSame. Obama is clearly the best choice for our country at this time.

Posted by regg Maloof October 23, 08 12:31 PM
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Nader is the best choice. Listen to when he talks. He rarley says I. Its nearly always we. He is for the common man. Why is it that Obama refused to have town hall debates with Mcain or refused the Google debates.

Posted by Shell October 23, 08 03:45 PM
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Nader an egomaniac? That is completely absurd. The man has worked for four decades to improve the quality of your life. Ever notice how cars have seatbelts? Ever hear of the EPA, the Freedom of Information Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act -- ever hear of OSHA?

The guy works so much he doesn't even have a wife. He gives the bulk of his money to charity. Do you really want to put yourself out there as being that ungrateful, as being that ignorant about a man who has a record of saving MILLIONS of American lives?

Posted by Clint October 23, 08 05:03 PM
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