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Wednesday, May 12, 2004

Nader spokesman Kevin Zeese said Nader welcomed the support but planned to continue running as an independent. He said Nader would decide case by case whether to accept the ballot lines in each state.

"This shows that Nader can garner support from across the political spectrum, including conservatives who supported Bush in 2000," Zeese said. "The naysayers who said Nader could only get liberal votes are being proven wrong. Conservatives are upset with Bush and looking for an alternative."

Zeese said Nader spoke to Reform Party leaders via conference call Monday night and asked for their support.

Other states in which the Reform Party has already secured ballot access for its nominee include Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana and South Carolina. Nader is not yet on the ballot in any state.

'He Can Win'

"Ralph Nader has stood up for the rights of American citizens his entire life," Reform Party USA Chairman Shawn O'Hara said in a statement posted on the party's Web site. "He is a man of peace, and with the help of every citizen who did not vote in the primaries, he can win the November presidential election."

The Reform Party USA said it has more than 1 million active supporters, who Zeese said Nader would use to help him gain ballot access in other states.

Reform Party founder Ross Perot received more than 19 million votes when he ran for president in 1992 and more than 8 million votes in 1996. The party endorsed maverick conservative Pat Buchanan in the 2000 election.

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Editor's note: