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Ron Paul urges third-party vote | Ron Paul urges third-party vote |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Texas Congressman Ron Paul is to urge voters to reject Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain and vote for a third-party US candidate instead. | Texas Congressman Ron Paul is to urge voters to reject Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain and vote for a third-party US candidate instead. |
Dr Paul, who dropped his own bid for the Republican nomination earlier this year, has a big internet following. | |
He is backing independent Ralph Nader, Libertarian Bob Barr and Constitution Party and Green Party candidates. | He is backing independent Ralph Nader, Libertarian Bob Barr and Constitution Party and Green Party candidates. |
"The strongest message can be sent by rejecting the two-party system," he will tell a Washington news conference. | "The strongest message can be sent by rejecting the two-party system," he will tell a Washington news conference. |
"This can be accomplished by voting for one of the non-establishment, principled candidates." | "This can be accomplished by voting for one of the non-establishment, principled candidates." |
Those invited to attend Dr Paul's news conference include Green Party candidate Cynthia McKinney, a former Democratic congresswoman for Georgia, and Constitution Party contender Chuck Baldwin. | |
According to an advance copy of Dr Paul's remarks, he will say the mainstream parties have no major differences on important issues, such as balancing the budget and civil liberties. | |
'Realignment' | 'Realignment' |
Mr Nader is quoted by the Associated Press as saying the gathering of third-party candidates would "raise the eyebrows" of commentators sceptical about their chances in November's presidential election. | Mr Nader is quoted by the Associated Press as saying the gathering of third-party candidates would "raise the eyebrows" of commentators sceptical about their chances in November's presidential election. |
"This is the beginning of the realignment of American politics," he told the AP. | "This is the beginning of the realignment of American politics," he told the AP. |
Mr Nader won 0.3% of the vote in 2004, when he ran as an independent. In 2000, when he stood as a Green Party candidate, he was blamed by Democrats for taking votes from Al Gore that might have prevented George W Bush's narrow election win. | |
Thousands of people attended a protest rally held by the libertarian-leaning Dr Paul - who opposes the Iraq war - near the Republican National Convention in Minnesota, last week. | |
He won no contests in his party's primary election season but raised large amounts of money and support online. | He won no contests in his party's primary election season but raised large amounts of money and support online. |