Ralph Nader After Appearing on NBC's Meet the Press on Feb. 24, 2008

Beltway Happenings

February 24, 2008--Consumer advocate Ralph Nader speaks to reporters after an appearance on NBC News' "Meet the Press," during which he announced he will run for president as an independent candidate. Nader pointed to issues ranging from single payer health insurance to a bloated military budget to labor law reform. He questioned whether those "who think that the country needs an infusion of freedom, democracy, choice, dissent should just sit on the sidelines and watch the two parties own all the voters and turn the government over to big business?" "We need to shift the power from the few to the many," he told host Tim Russert.

After the program Nader fielded questions from reporters outside. Asked how this campaign would differ from the 2004 campaign, when he was marginalized and obtained just 463,647 votes (0.38%), Nader pointed to a lawsuit filed on his behalf several months ago against the Democratic National Committee and several allied organizations charging them with using abusive lawsuits, harrassment and intimidation to keep him off the ballot. Nader said he will need $10 million dollars to run his campaign. Nader faces an immediate challenge in gaining ballot access in the 50 states. He said he would have to see about pursuing the Green Party nomination, but would seek backing of such parties as the Independent Party of Oregon. Finally, Nader seemed to suggest that he could have an announcement on his running mate within a week, someone he termed "impressive."