Ralph Nader Enters The Presidential Campaign

Ralph Nader announced today that he is entering the presidential campaign as an Independent candidate. With many Democrats still hurting over the perception that Nader cost Al Gore the 2000 election against George W. Bush there is already a lot of negative response to this development from both Barack Obama & Hillary Clinton supporters.

The Democratic candidates themselves have also responded negatively to Nader’s announcement.

Obama said: “He thought that there was no difference between Al Gore and George Bush and, eight years later, I think people realize that Ralph did not know what he was talking about.”

Clinton called Nader’s decision to enter the race “unfortunate” and also referenced the 2000 election by saying that Nader “prevented Al Gore from being the ‘greenest’ president we could have had.”

Nader is seen as “taking votes” almost entirely from the Democratic party as his ideas largely do not appeal to Republicans. The candidates reinforced that perception in their response to Nader’s decision.

Republican candidate Mike Huckabee said “I think it always would probably pull votes away from the Democrats and not the Republicans, so naturally, Republicans would welcome his entry into the race.”

Clinton said Nader’s candidacy is not helpful for whoever the Democratic nominee turns out to be, “I can’t think of anybody that would vote for Sen. McCain who would vote for Ralph Nader.”