Nader Haters: Get over the 2000 Election

[SpyridonOCA]

Ralph Nader's Campaign Strategy in the 2000 U.S. Presidential Election
Barry C. Burden

Harvard University

Those observing the 2000 presidential campaign agreed that Ralph Nader could not win the presidency but disagreed about his actual strategy. Many Democrats contended that he was playing the role of "spoiler" in an attempt to attract attention or affect the election outcome. Others argued that he was trying to earn 5% of the popular vote to secure matching funds for the Green Party in the next presidential election. Count models find that Nader's travel schedule, unlike Gore's, was unresponsive to the closeness of the major-party race. Nader's appearances were driven primarily by opportunities for attracting a large number of voters, suggesting that earning 5% was indeed a central campaign goal. Data on television advertising produce a parallel result. This finding resolves an ongoing debate about Nader in particular, but also points to broader differences between major and minor-party campaign strategies.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/265837/Naders-Campaign-Strategy-in-2000-Presidential-Election

It should be obvious by now that Nader did not "spoil" the 2000 election. It was the weakness of Gore as a candidate, his blunders in campaigning, and his failure to challenge the Florida election results that lost him the election. All Nader did was stand up for principle against the two-party dictatorship.

 

[Job_s_First_Son]

I think Nader appealed more to the left margin that the right. With the closeness of the vote, I believe he made the difference.

I found the report poorly constructed, weighted too much to insufficient factors and did not consider many other important points.

Past history, moved on.

 

[Verv]

Honestly, Nader did spoil Gore.

Nader received 97,000 votes in Florida and Gore lost it by less than 1,000 (source)

If Nader had not run and insisted on his voters voting for him, Gore would have won.

I can see Ron Paul doing something similar to the Republicans in the future.

 

[SpyridonOCA]

I think Nader appealed more to the left margin that the right. With the closeness of the vote, I believe he made the difference.

Why would voters on the left support the corporate-controlled Democratic candidate? What makes one assume that many of the new voters in 2000, those who registered to support Nader, would have otherwise voted for Gore?

 

[SpyridonOCA]

Nader received 97,000 votes in Florida and Gore lost it by less than 1,000 (source)

In Florida, did Nader receive dramatically more votes than the other third party candidates? Did Gore adequately challenge how the Florida election was more or less stolen? Was Gore even that great of a candidate to begin with? Nominating Al Gore after eight year of Clinton was like Gerald Ford running after pardoning nixon.

 

[Maynard Keenan]

No Nader=president Gore. Gore could have won with Nader in the race, but he WOULD have won without Nader. Had Nader not run, we would not have had to suffer through the worst presidential administration in modern times.

 

[SpyridonOCA]

No Nader=president Gore. Gore could have won with Nader in the race, but he WOULD have won without Nader. Had Nader not run, we would not have had to suffer through the worst presidential administration in modern times.

Again, don't blame Nader for Gore's obvious weakness as a candidate. What evidence is there that Nader "spoiled" the election?

 

[MichaelFJF]

When Nader was running, I just happened to be at the Salt Lake City airport when he arrived for a speech. There were 6 people to greet him........6.

 

[Avatar]

When Nader was running, I just happened to be at the Salt Lake City airport when he arrived for a speech. There were 6 people to greet him........6.

Yeah, but that was Utah. How was he received when he visited Florida?

 

[Avatar]

No Nader=president Gore. Gore could have won with Nader in the race, but he WOULD have won without Nader. Had Nader not run, we would not have had to suffer through the worst presidential administration in modern times.

Well said.

 

[burrow_owl]

It sounds like the McKinney / Sheehan ticket has its PR director. Are they paying you in gold bullion, or do you get fiat money?

 

[Douger]

Honestly, Nader did spoil Gore.

Nader received 97,000 votes in Florida and Gore lost it by less than 1,000 (source)

If Nader had not run and insisted on his voters voting for him, Gore would have won.

I can see Ron Paul doing something similar to the Republicans in the future.

Why the word "spoiled"? Did Gore "Spoil" Nader? Do Republicans "Spoil" the Libertarian and Constitutionalist party candidates because people are afraid not to vote Republican for fear of a Democrat winning?

 

[Billnew]

The Jackass and the Fat Elephant have it set up so a third party will only screw the side closer to his leanings.

Perot took votes from Bush sr, Nader took votes from Gore.
Third party can't win, with the rules the way they are,
and will only push the vote to the other side.