Nader seen as threat to Gore

By Hanna LoPatin

Daily Staff Reporter

Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader has always had a good rapport with environmentalists - keeping the earth green has always been on the top of his list of priorities. But recently Nader has come under fire from groups like the Sierra Club for taking votes away from the other "environmental candidate," Vice President Al Gore.

Responding to a letter sent by Nader to environmental groups across the country that support Gore, Sierra Club President Carl Pope wrote, "Neither the letter nor the tactics you are increasingly adopting in your candidacy are worthy of the Ralph Nader I knew."

In his letter, Pope accused Nader of handing over the election to George W. Bush, who he says is less environmentally conscious.

"You have referred to the likely results of a Bush election as being a 'cold shower' for the Democratic party," Pope wrote. "You have made clear that you will consider it a victory if the net result of your campaign is a Bush presidency. But what will your 'cold shower' mean for real people and real places?"

Debbie Sease, the national legislative director for the Sierra Club, said the group does not want Nader campaigning in swing states.

"We would encourage him not to take votes away from Gore up to and including his dropping out of the race," she said. "If you look at Al Gore's record, it is the clear record of an environmental champion."

While appreciating the ideals that Nader stands for, Sease said, the unlikelihood of his victory makes a vote for him not only harmless but hurtful.

"It's an indulgence that I don't think we can afford," she said. "I know how tempting it might be to make a gesture (by voting for Nader), but it's likely to get you George W. Bush as president."

LSA senior Lee Palmer said she will vote for Nader regardless of what it means for Gore.

"He who gets the most votes will undoubtedly win," she said. "If Gore was talking about the things that Nader is talking about he would get Nader's votes. He doesn't deserve unearned votes."

Meanwhile, the Gore campaign is not too worried about the Nader effect.

"Voters who are informed on the issues know that there are major issues at stake in this election," said Kim Rubey, a spokeswoman for the Gore campaign.

Despite reports that states carried by President Clinton in 1992 and 1996 are now swing states, Rubey said the race will not be affected.

"Internally, the research we're seeing - we're right where we want to be," she said.

Michigan Gov. John Engler commented recently on MSNBC that Nader does not have a big effect in Michigan - arguably one of the most important states in the campaign.

Engler spokeswoman Susan Schafer said Nader's involvement in consumer advocacy has driven him away from Michigan's automobile workers.

Besides, she said, Bush's campaign stands on its own in Michigan.

"We've got a strong ground game here," she said.

ALEX WOLK/Daily

Jack's Hardware on Packard Road publicly announces their support of Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader.