Ralph Nader 2008 Independent Candidate for President

Links - Official Sites: Nader for President 2008, The Nader Page
Organization, Photos
Finances: Primary, General
Past Campaigns: 2004, 2000

In Brief - In 2004, as an Independent on the ballot in 34 states and DC, Nader-Camejo obtained 464,291 votes (0.38 percent of the popular vote), finishing third. In 2000, as the Green Party presidential nominee in 43 states and DC, Nader-LaDuke obtained 2,882,737 votes (2.74 percent), finishing third. In 1996, as the Green Party presidential nominee, Nader obtained 685,128 votes (0.71 percent), finishing fourth. He also was a write-in candidate in the 1992 New Hampshire primary. He has founded many organizations including the Center for Study of Responsive Law (1969), the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), the Center for Auto Safety, Public Citizen, Clean Water Action Project, the Disability Rights Center, the Pension Rights Center, the Project for Corporate Responsibility and The Multinational Monitor (a monthly magazine). Nader has authored and co-authored numerous book. He worked as a lawyer in Hartford, CT before moving to Washington, DC in 1965. LL.B. from Harvard University, 1958; A.B. from Princeton University, 1955. Born Feb. 27, 1934 in Winsted, CT.

Notes
Fighting Corporate Greed, Corporate Power and Corporate Control
At the end of January 2008 consumer advocate Ralph Nader launched a presidential exploratory committee, and in a February 24 appearance on NBC News' "Meet the Press" he announced his candidacy. Nader laid out a set of issues ranging from single payer health insurance to a bloated military budget to labor law reform that he said are not being addressed by the other candidates. The broad themes were familiar: fighting corporate greed, corporate power and corporate control. On February 28 Nader announced Matt Gonzalez, a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, as his running mate.

Many soured on Nader after the 2000 campaign, when, as the Green Party nominee, he obtained 2,882,737 million votes (2.74 percent of the vote), and, in the view of some, tipped the election to George W. Bush. But Nader forcefully rejected that charge, pointing with justification to myriad factors involved in Gore's loss to Bush. In 2004 Nader ran as an independent; in the face of a concerted effort by Democrats and allied organizations to keep him off the ballot in a number of states, he obtained just 463,647 votes (0.38 percent).

In 2008 Nader was on the ballot in a record 45 states and the District of Columbia. Unlike in 2004, Democrats essentially ignored the Nader campaign. The campaign reported total receipts of $4.37 million including individual contributions of $3.12 million and federal funds of $881,494.22 and total receipts of $3.93 million (post-general FEC report). Nader visited all 50 states, claimed a Guinness World Record for the most speeches in 24 hours, and even appeared in a video with Obama Girl. While some viewed this latest run as an ego trip and the vote total was a relatively meager 738,475 votes (0.56 percent), Nader's candidacy served to interject another voice into the discussion, if not the debates, and helped to keep our democracy honest (see "Campaign Accomplishments" press release).

Aug. 22 press release: "The Nader Effect on Obama/McCain..."
Nov. 11 press release: "Campaign Accomplishments"