Ralph Nader
Tori Bowman
Josh Hertz
Eric Lewandowski
Outline
Professional Bio
 Why he’s running
 Why he changed parties
 Why people hate him

Professional Bio

Books
o
o
o
o
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Unsafe at Any Speed published (1965)
Corporate Power in America (1973)
Who's Poisoning America (1981)
Winning the Insurance Game (1990)
Short time as a lawyer and a
lecturer
Political influences

Over eight major federal consumer protection
laws
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Launching federal regulatory agencies

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Safe Drinking Water Act
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA)
Environment Protection Agency (EPA)
Consumer Product Safety Administration
Freedom of Information Act of 1974
5th time as a presidential candidate
Why run at all?
Provides an alternative candidate for
those dissatisfied with both major
parties.
 An attempt to provide a different set
of standards among candidates.
 A candidate who doesn’t want
corporations treated as equal to
citizens.

Why not Green?
Two major reasons for going
independent, only one pushed in the
media.
 Main reason given for leaving: To try
and enter the state ballots
 Main unspoken reason: His
campaign isn’t a Green campaign

Why They Hate Him
Who is “they”?
 Dems. say “Nader should be held
responsible for jeopardizing the well
being of gays and lesbians,
minorities and poor, women and
organized labor” – NY Times, Nov. 9,
2000
 Very close margins in 2000 election

The 2000 Election Margins

Bush won Florida by 537 votes


Bush won New Hampshire by 7,211 votes


Nader had almost 21,000
Gore won Iowa by 4,000 votes


Nader had over 22,000
Gore won New Mexico by 366 votes


Nader had almost 100,000 votes
Nader had almost 30,000
Etc.
What Would Change

2000 Voter Exit Polls Show:
47% of Nader voters would have voted
for Gore
 21% of Nader voters would have voted
for Bush


Today:

Republicans view Nader most
negatively (42%, up from 33% in
2000)
Current Polls

Before Nader’s entry:
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After Nader’s entry last month:
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46% - Bush
43% - Kerry
46% - Bush
38% - Kerry
7% - Nader
Nader’s percentage has stayed relatively
constant
References
Academy of Achievement
(http://www.achievement.org/autod
oc/page/nad0bio-1)
 Nader Page (http://www.nader.org/)
 Project Vote Smart (http://www.votesmart.org/)
 Time Magazine

Questions