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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Ralph Nader to run for president | Ralph Nader to run for president |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ralph Nader says he will run again as an independent for the US presidency. | Ralph Nader says he will run again as an independent for the US presidency. |
| The anti-establishment consumer advocate made the announcement in a televised interview on Sunday. | The anti-establishment consumer advocate made the announcement in a televised interview on Sunday. |
| Mr Nader was accused by many Democrats of handing the presidency to George W Bush in the November 2000 elections. He ran again unsuccessfully in 2004. | Mr Nader was accused by many Democrats of handing the presidency to George W Bush in the November 2000 elections. He ran again unsuccessfully in 2004. |
| Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are vying for the Democratic ticket. Senator John McCain is almost certain to run for the Republicans. | Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are vying for the Democratic ticket. Senator John McCain is almost certain to run for the Republicans. |
| Nearly three million Americans - more than 2% of the vote - backed Mr Nader when he stood as the Green Party candidate in the 2000 presidential election. | Nearly three million Americans - more than 2% of the vote - backed Mr Nader when he stood as the Green Party candidate in the 2000 presidential election. |
| That election was so close that a small proportion of those votes - particularly in the key state of Florida - would have put Al Gore in the White House. | That election was so close that a small proportion of those votes - particularly in the key state of Florida - would have put Al Gore in the White House. |
| Disenchanted | Disenchanted |
| "I'm running for president," Mr Nader said as he announced the move on NBC's Meet the Press. | "I'm running for president," Mr Nader said as he announced the move on NBC's Meet the Press. |
| He said most Americans were disenchanted with the Democratic and Republican parties - who were not discussing the urgent issues facing American voters | He said most Americans were disenchanted with the Democratic and Republican parties - who were not discussing the urgent issues facing American voters |
| We have to shift the power from the few to the many Ralph Nader Profile: Ralph NaderYour views on Nader's bid | We have to shift the power from the few to the many Ralph Nader Profile: Ralph NaderYour views on Nader's bid |
| People, he said, felt "locked out, shut out, marginalised and disrespected". | People, he said, felt "locked out, shut out, marginalised and disrespected". |
| He called Washington DC "corporate-occupied territory" that turns the government against the interest of its own people. | He called Washington DC "corporate-occupied territory" that turns the government against the interest of its own people. |
| Mr Nader denied he was seeking to be a spoiler candidate - and accused the main parties of "political bigotry". | Mr Nader denied he was seeking to be a spoiler candidate - and accused the main parties of "political bigotry". |
| Referring to the three main contenders in the race so far, he questioned: "Do they have the moral courage, do they have the fortitude to stand up to corporate powers and get things done for the American people?" | Referring to the three main contenders in the race so far, he questioned: "Do they have the moral courage, do they have the fortitude to stand up to corporate powers and get things done for the American people?" |
| "We have to shift the power from the few to the many." | "We have to shift the power from the few to the many." |
| Mixed reaction | Mixed reaction |
| Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were quick to criticise Mr Nader. | Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton were quick to criticise Mr Nader. |
| "He thought that there was no difference between Al Gore and George Bush and eight years later I think people realise that Ralph did not know what he was talking about," Mr Obama was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. | "He thought that there was no difference between Al Gore and George Bush and eight years later I think people realise that Ralph did not know what he was talking about," Mr Obama was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. |
| "I remember when he did this before, it didn't turn out too well, for anyone, especially our country," Mrs Clinton said. | |
| "I hope it's kind of a just a passing fancy that people won't take too seriously." | "I hope it's kind of a just a passing fancy that people won't take too seriously." |
| Republican hopeful Mike Huckabee was much more welcoming: | Republican hopeful Mike Huckabee was much more welcoming: |
| "I think it always would probably pull votes away from the Democrats, not the Republicans, so naturally Republicans would welcome his entry into the race and hope that maybe a few more will join in," he told CNN. | "I think it always would probably pull votes away from the Democrats, not the Republicans, so naturally Republicans would welcome his entry into the race and hope that maybe a few more will join in," he told CNN. |
| Consumer agenda | Consumer agenda |
| Mr Nader, 73, was born in Connecticut in 1934 and was educated at Princeton and Harvard universities. | Mr Nader, 73, was born in Connecticut in 1934 and was educated at Princeton and Harvard universities. |
| He has spent most of his life fighting for consumers and workers against corporations. | He has spent most of his life fighting for consumers and workers against corporations. |
| In the 1960s his work on car safety led directly to seat belts and shatter-resistant glass being fitted in every American car. | In the 1960s his work on car safety led directly to seat belts and shatter-resistant glass being fitted in every American car. |
| From the 1970s he built a reputation for dealing with issues including workers' rights, public safety, the environment and the influence of corporations. | From the 1970s he built a reputation for dealing with issues including workers' rights, public safety, the environment and the influence of corporations. |
| He founded a number of groups including Public Citizen, which in recent years has been active in organising protests against the World Trade Organization and World Bank/IMF. | He founded a number of groups including Public Citizen, which in recent years has been active in organising protests against the World Trade Organization and World Bank/IMF. |