Ralph Nader runs again (for president)

When asked by moderator Tim Russert if he planned to run for president, Nader said yes. "Twenty-four percent of the American people are satisfied with the state of the country," he said.  "That's about the lowest ranking ever.  Sixty-one percent think both major parties are failing.  And, according to Frank Luntz's poll, a Republican, 80 percent would consider voting for a independent this year."

In the 2008 presidential election, George Bush lost the popular vote to Al Gore but won in the electoral college by winning Florida by a mere 537 votes.  Nader got 97,488 votes in Florida, most of which Democrats believe would have gone to Gore if Nader had chosen not to run.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama was not amused by Nader's campaign.  "He seems to have a, a pretty high opinion of, of his, his own work," said Obama.  "In many ways, he is a heroic figure, and I don't mean to diminish him.  But I do think there's a sense now that, you know, if, if somebody's not hewing to the Ralph Nader agenda, then you, you must be lacking in some way."

Nader dismissed the criticism and said that Obama along with Sens. Hillary Clinton and John McCain are "not addressing" issues that he said are supported by a majority of the American people.

Nader praised Obama as "a person of substance" and "the first liberal evangelist in a long time."  He said Obama had run a "brilliant tactical campaign" but warned that "his better instincts and his knowledge have been censored by himself" and cited the Illinois senator's pro-Palestinian positions when he ran for the state senate as an example.

Nader also rejected any argument that his candidacy might cost the Democrats the White House once again.  "If the Democrats can't landslide the Republicans this year, they ought to just wrap up, close down, emerge in a different form," he said.  "You think the American people are going to vote for a pro-war John McCain who almost gives an indication that he's the candidate of perpetual war, perpetual intervention overseas?" he asked Russert.

Given the differences between the candidates of the two parties, why would Nader run, Russert asked.  "Senator Obama's record has not been a challenging one," he said, suggesting that the role of his own campaign was to challenge both parties to focus more on the issues he cares about.