My theory on the "Nader at 7%" polls

is that this is due to people willing to cast a protest vote that doesn't hurt. If I could've voted in 2000 and lived in a swing state, and had been asked who I'd vote for in a poll, I'd probably say Nader, but I'm sure I would've went with Gore at the last minute.

Basically, half these Nader voters aren't planning on voting for him, just want a way to vent their protest votes.

Maybe they think a little bit of a threat could bring Kerry to address some Nader-like issues too, and maybe it could.

I know two Nader voters, though, and neither one of them are going that way this time.

But if NC is a shoe-in for *, I will consider voting for Nader.

I think NC is one of the harder states to get on.....80,000 signatures by May 17th. (Ballotaccess.com says 100,000)

n/t

Some Repugs are gaming the polls by telling the pollsters they'd vote for Nader. Why? They believe that high poll numbers will be all that it takes to keep the egotistical Nader from contemplating dropping out before the finish.

I wonder if they would pick Nader in a poll if they thought it would allow Kerry to be ahead of Bush in the overall poll results?

Perhaps their "true" poll formula is: Bush* = Bush* + ~5% of Nader. ???

Besides, if nothing else those poll numbers keep the dems from becoming complacent during the campaign.

that wasn't the case in Florida ...

but I wasn't voting for Ralph. I was voting for the Green Party. I wanted it to get 5 percent and receive matching funds. Now that Nader isn't with the Greens anymore, I can't see any possible reason anyone might vote for him.

I apologize for yelling, but it makes me VERY FRUSTRATED!!!

I don't get why anyone would ever, ever, ever vote for Nader, even if he had a chance to get elected. He would be a disastrous president. He has never been in charge of any organization in his entire life except those that he founded himself and all of those have very small followings. He is too narrowminded and his ego is too big for him to realize that his "big ideas" have unintended consequences that would soon make him and other similar progressives the laughing stock of the nation and the world. Based on interviews I have seen him do, I think that Nader has a very authoritarian leadership style that creeps me out. In fact, I think that he is almost as authoritarian as Bushco.

When I vote for Kerry in November, I will be voting for the best, not "settling" for 2nd best. Kerry is a progressive and experienced policymaker who plays well with others (unlike Nader). He has a life long record of public service and has done far more good for the U.S. than Nader.

GO KERRY!!!!

I really thought we had a great group of candidates this time - from JK, to DK, to Dean, to Edwards, to general Wes Clark, and CMB, the other two, I never liked.

I can't think of a reason to vote for Nader over any of them. Kerry has maintained a very liberal record and while I disagree completely with his PATRIOT Act and IWR votes, he will still make one hell of a president.