"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message
...
In article ,

I saw one story, true or not I don't know, that one of Nader's
biggest backers is a Bush Republican. If true, that backer lives in the
real world - unfortunately.

Nader accepts Republican signatures on petition
GOP gathered names in Michigan to make sure maverick appears on ballot



LANSING, Mich. (AP) — In an about face, Ralph Nader decided today to accept
thousands of petition signatures collected by Michigan Republicans if that's
the only way he can qualify for the state's presidential ballot.

Last Thursday, Michigan Republican party officials submitted 43,000
signatures — far more than the 30,000 needed — to ensure Nader could appear
on the ballot as an independent. Republicans began collecting signatures
after it appeared that Nader might not get on the ballot as the Reform
party's candidate for president.

Nader's campaign had turned in about 5,400 signatures. But spokesman Kevin
Zeese said it stopped collecting them a month ago after the national Reform
party endorsed Nader and it looked as though he could get on the ballot as
its candidate.

But there has been a growing dispute over who controls the Reform party in
Michigan. One group claiming to be the legitimate Reform Party of Michigan
plans to nominate a presidential candidate for the ballot at its state
convention Saturday. Chairman Matthew Crehan, of Muskegon, Mich., has said
there is no guarantee Nader will get that nomination.

A group headed by John Muntz, of Wyandotte, Mich., which also claims to be
the legitimate state Reform party, already has nominated Nader for the spot
on the state ballot. Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land has said she can't
accept that nomination until the dispute over who controls the state Reform
party is resolved.

Zeese said the goal is to get Nader on Michigan's ballot — however it
happens.

"We're going to continue to pursue the Reform party, but we're not going to
close off the independent option at this time while the Reform party has not
decided" who is in charge, he said.

Michigan Democratic party leaders have asked Nader to refuse the signatures,
saying Republicans want him on the ballot only to draw votes away from
Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.

"We urge Nader to reject this Republican political trick and demonstrate
that he is still a man with great integrity who honours his own beliefs,"
Michigan Democratic executive chairman Mark Brewer said.

Zeese initially said last week that the campaign would refuse the Republican
signatures. He later said he wasn't sure that was still the case if it
turned out state officials wouldn't accept the Reform party nomination.

Brewer said Nader's decision not to withdraw as an independent will force
the party to file a federal election complaint against Nader's campaign and
the Michigan Republican party, which it contends exceeded a state political
party campaign limit of $5,000 US in helping Nader get on the ballot.

State Republican executive director Greg McNeilly said last week that the
party didn't exceed any campaign spending limits because it collected most
of the signatures through volunteers.

Democrats also plan to check the validity of all signatures and challenge
any they find in error. Any challenges must be filed by Thursday afternoon.

"A close inspection of the petitions revealed numerous instances of petition
fraud made by Republican party staffers," Brewer said today in a statement.


http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Con...=1090275619184