The Last Run of Ralph Nader

Consumer advocate and perennial presidential hopeful Ralph Nader has again decided to launch a presidential campaign. Apparently the phrase "snowball's chance" is not in his lexicon.

From the WaPo:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Consumer advocate Ralph Nader, blamed by many Democrats for their loss of the White House in the 2000 election, said on Sunday he is launching another independent campaign for the White House.

Nader, who will turn 74 this week, announced his longshot presidential bid on NBC's "Meet the Press" saying that neither the Democrats nor the Republicans were addressing problems facing Americans.

Nader called Washington "corporate occupied territory" that turns the government against the interests of the people. "In that context, I have decided to run for president," he said.

Democrats said they do not expect Nader, who also ran as an independent in 2004, to have much of an impact.

Given the fact that Nader is considered a spoiler by many, has used money from GOP supporters to fund his campaign, and has run repeatedly without any measurable success his impact may indeed be minimal this time around. Further hindering Mr Nader is the fact that Obama has already heavily tapped college campuses for those supporters which in the past have accounted for much of Nader's support. Of course if Ron Paul launches a third party bid as well he would effectively offset Mr. Nader's perceived "spoiler effect". Not that I think that's going to happen given the fact that Paul is currently concentrating on keeping his congressional seat.

For Nader hater's though their is one bright spot and that's that this should be his last run. By the next presidential election he'll be seventy eight years old. If he's still around then and tries to run again it'll be just pathetic to watch. Its time to hand the reins over to someone else Ralph before you become "the has been that never was".

Ron Paul Eying a Third Party Run?

From the Political Insider:

Paul Leaves Third Party Door Open An Inch

During an MSNBC interview Wednesday, Rep. Ron Paul was asked if he would run for president as a third-party candidate. Paul replied, "No, I don't plan to run in a third party. That's not my goal. But if we have a candidate that loves the war and loves the neocon position of promoting--" Interviewer Norah O'Donnell cut Paul off at that point, and did not return to the topic during the rest of the interview.

Gee, that sounds a lot like Giuliani. Considering that the religious right has been talking to the leadership of a certain third party, it is entirely possible he may have been approached. Given the fact that Ron Paul third party run would ruin any chances of the GOP taking the presidency and conceivably bring the war in Iraq to an end sooner I could see why Dr. Paul might consider this option.

I'm left wondering if the GOP would offer him the VP position to head that off and to draw Ron Paul's supporters into the GOP fold come election day.

H/T To Donklephant
and Third Party Watch (for the Video)

Is the GOP Crashing?

Because its traditional supporters are certainly bailing out fast. Take the business sector for example:

From the WSJ

GOP Is Losing Grip on Core Buisness Vote

WASHINGTON -- The Republican Party, known since the late 19th century as the party of business, is losing its lock on that title.

New evidence suggests a potentially historic shift in the Republican Party's identity -- what strategists call its "brand." The votes of many disgruntled fiscal conservatives and other lapsed Republicans are now up for grabs, which could alter U.S. politics in the 2008 elections and beyond.

Some business leaders are drifting away from the party because of the war in Iraq, the growing federal debt and a conservative social agenda they don't share. In manufacturing sectors such as the auto industry, some Republicans want direct government help with soaring health-care costs, which Republicans in Washington have been reluctant to provide. And some business people want more government action on global warming, arguing that a bolder plan is not only inevitable, but could spur new industries....

But polling data confirm business support for Republicans is eroding. In the Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll in September, 37% of professionals and managers identify themselves as Republican or leaning Republican, down from 44% three years ago...

And then there are members of the religious right:

From Salon

Religious Right May Blackball Giuliani

A powerful group of conservative Christian leaders decided Saturday at a private meeting in Salt Lake City to consider supporting a third-party candidate for president if a pro-choice nominee like Rudy Giuliani wins the Republican nomination.

The meeting of about 50 leaders, including Focus on the Family's James Dobson, the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins and former presidential candidate Gary Bauer, who called in by phone, took place at the Grand America Hotel during a gathering of the Council for National Policy, a powerful shadow group of mostly religious conservatives. James Clymer, the chairman of the U.S. Constitution Party, was also present at the meeting, according to a person familiar with the proceedings.

"The conclusion was that if there is a pro-abortion nominee they will consider working with a third party," said the person, who spoke to Salon on the condition of anonymity. The private meeting was not a part of the official CNP schedule, which is itself a closely held secret. "Dobson came in just for this meeting," the person said.

I'm can't blame either group. Speaking as a fiscal conservative I wouldn't support the GOP either. Once they had all three branches of government they behaved as badly with America's money as the claim Dems do.

I expected the religious right to stay home rather than endorse a third party though. After all they were expecting an end to abortion and a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and all they got was the faith based initiatives program. By threatening to jump ship they are sending the strongest possible message to the GOP. However if you read both articles you find that a strong attempt to retain the religious right will cause them to lose more people in the business sector unless they prove that they have mended their free spending ways. For now though its good news for Dems (and probably The Constitution Party) and yet another sign that its going to be a tough couple of election cycles for the GOP. That is unless the Dems behave just as badly once they have control of the Oval Office, the Senate, and the House.

Hey, it could happen.