Nader poised to drain votes from Democrats

Ralph Nader, the colorful Green Party candidate -- and veritable thorn in the side of Democratic candidate Al Gore -- is running an insurgent campaign largely based on the premise that no difference exists between the major-party candidates. While Nader freely voices criticisms of both Gore and Republican George W. Bush, most of the famed consumer advocate's votes are coming straight from Gore's column. Though Nader is polling very low nationally, even just a few percentage points in a few close states could swing the electoral advantage to the Texas governor. The nation's key liberal advocacy groups have all rallied behind Gore, but Nader has managed to forge together a rag-tag coalition of college students and disillusioned voters throughout the country. By upholding a platform dedicated to the establishment of a living wage, campaign finance reform and the environment, Nader has been able to appeal to voters who feel left out of the traditional politics of the two-party system. His message has been particularly effective with young voters. "The major parties don't seek young voters," Nader spokesman Tom Adkins said. "They don't spend any money trying to organize on college campuses." And to the dismay of Democrats nationwide, what's resonating in Nader's rhetoric is that there is essentially no difference between Gore and Bush. "If he can't see the difference between Gore and Bush, it's pretty pathetic," criticized Toby Moffet, a former Democratic member of Congress. But Nader's stance has appealed to many, including some Penn students. Emily Quesada, campus coordinator of the Penn Greens, is attracted to Nader's campaign because of what she describes as the abandonment of liberal principles by the Democratic Party. "I think [Nader] is offering a choice where there isn't one," the College sophomore said. "He's making Gore think about the core of his party, the progressive left." Appearances suggest that Nader is doing more harm than was once expected, forcing the Gore campaign to shore up its base voters with less than one week remaining until Election Day. By conservative estimates, Bush has secured roughly 214 electoral votes thus far. And while nothing is assured until the close of the polls on November 7, Gore is in very close races in traditionally liberal states such as Washington and Oregon, and has watched his lead evaporate in California. In Pennsylvania, where Gore has been vigorously campaigning through surrogate Ed Rendell for the state's 23 electoral votes, the Democrat is in a statistical dead heat with Bush. Any votes for Nader could potentially swing the state over to Bush. Quesada, if offered the choice between either Gore or Bush, said she would choose "none of the above." "You're supposed to vote your conscience," she said. And while Nader has virtually no hope of becoming the next president of the United States, he must receive 5 percent of the popular vote nationwide if his party is to receive federal funds in the next election. There are some who have envisioned the idea of brokering votes as a way to ensure that both Gore and Nader come out ahead, with the Democrat winning the election and Nader achieving the 5 percent threshold. Under so-called "Nader-trader" schemes, voters in swing states would vote for Gore, while voters in states where Bush or Gore have strong leads would vote for Nader. But the Green Party will have none of that. "We believe the most practical vote anyone can make is to vote your conscience," Adkins said.