Does Nader matter?
Considering what happened in 2000, it is understandable that Ralph Nader’s entrance into the race is drawing much ink. But it is worth remembering that he also ran in 2004 with minimal impact. Indeed, it seems safe to assume that Nader will be an irrelevance this time round.
In 2000, Nader was helped by the fact that the two main party candidates seemed so similar, a Democratic administration that hadn’t lived up to the hopes of some on the left and a feeling that this was a meaningless election where it was safe to cast a protest vote. This time round, none of these factors apply: it is an obviously consequential election, the Republican and Democratic candidates will offer a clear ideological contrast and the left in America has been united by the Bush presidency.
In 2004, Nader got 0.38 percent of the vote. I’d be surprised if he did not receive a smaller percentage this November.