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| Nader Close to Spot on Michigan Ballot | |
| 2004-07-19 | |
| WASHINGTON, July 18 - With the apparent assistance of the state Republican Party, Ralph Nader appears likely to secure a spot on the Michigan presidential ballot. Mr. Nader had gathered 5,400 signatures on petitions in Michigan but stopped collecting them over a month ago, deciding instead to go after the nomination of the Reform Party. After he stopped the petition effort, though, a split within the Reform Party made it uncertain that he would get the nomination. But last Thursday, the deadline for submitting signatures, more than 50,000 signatures were submitted on behalf of Mr. Nader. The state requires 30,000 signatures. It appears that it was the Republican Party that stepped in to help Mr. Nader. It is widely believed that if Mr. Nader is on the ballot in Michigan and other states, he would draw more votes from John Kerry, the likely Democratic nominee, than from President Bush. An article from The Detroit News posted on the state Republican Party's Web site quotes the party's executive director as saying, "We are absolutely interested in having Ralph Nader on the ballot," and adds that the executive director, Greg McNeilly, was personally circulating petitions for Mr. Nader. Mr. McNeilly told fellow Republicans in a recent e-mail message that the Democrats were trying to keep Mr. Nader off the ballot, and that "your help is needed in the next five days to ensure that Michigan voters are not disenfranchised." Mark Brewer, the executive chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party, has asserted that the Republicans' petition-gathering was a contribution and that "there is no way they could have gathered over 40,000 signatures and spent less than $5,000," which is the legal limit. Kevin Zeese, a spokesman for Mr. Nader, said that the Republican work on behalf of Mr. Nader was not coordinated with Mr. Nader's campaign and thus was not subject to campaign contribution limits.
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| Posted by:Steve White |