{news} NADER LESS LIKELY TO RUN- CT GREENS TO MEET WHAT IS NEXT?

[Tim McKee]

WE INVITE ALL CT GREENS TO A MEETING JAN. 19 AT 7 PM AT STEVE FOURNIER'S
HOUSE -74 TREMONT FOR WHAT IS NEXT..

Nader's Senate prospects hit snag with Dodd's retirement
By Maria Recio, McClatchy Newspapers Maria Recio, Mcclatchy Newspapers
1 hr 29 mins ago

WASHINGTON — What's up with Ralph Nader ?

The three-time presidential candidate and consumer crusader, mostly under
the political radar while hustling a new book of fiction, also has been
quietly thinking about doing something completely different: running for the
U.S. Senate .

The intriguing prospect of running against embattled Sen. Christopher Dodd ,
D- Conn. , in his home state this year has hit a snag, however. Dodd made
the surprise announcement Wednesday that he'll be retiring, leaving the race
open to a strong Democrat, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal .

That has Nader, 75, known for his "spoiler" role in the 2000 presidential
election, re-thinking his chances.

"The attraction is a three-way race," Nader said in a telephone interview.
His voice raspy from a cold, Nader — "I never get sick" — spoke from his
home in Washington . "It's less likely to have a three-way race with such a
strong candidate."

Blumenthal, who's held the attorney general position since he was first
elected in 1990, has a reputation for pursuing consumer and environmental
causes.

Dodd was a more inviting target for Nader, who's among the critics of the
chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee for his
handling of the financial crisis and for benefiting from a favorable
mortgage from scandal-ridden Countrywide Financial Corp.

Nader was looking at a contest as the third option between a weakened Dodd
and a Republican opponent; among the candidates is Linda McMahon , former
chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment Inc.

In the 2000 election, Nader, the Green Party nominee, earned more than
97,000 votes in Florida . Democratic nominee Al Gore lost the state — and
thus the presidency — to George W. Bush by 537 votes.

Nader hates the "spoiler" label, arguing that a number of factors were in
play, including that Gore lost his home state of Tennessee .

As for a Connecticut run, Nader seems untroubled that he's primarily
Washington -based, saying that he's often at his family's Winsted, Conn. ,
home and is, in fact, registered to vote in the Nutmeg State.

Even if this year's candidacy may seem remote, Nader clearly has the bug,
even if it means he has to wait until 2012.

"The main thing is Lieberman," he said.

Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman , a former Democrat turned independent, has
enraged liberals for his closeness to Republicans, even campaigning with GOP
presidential nominee John McCain in 2008, and for supporting Republican
positions. He's up for re-election in two years.

In the meantime, Nader continues to lecture and make appearances for his
causes, such as single-payer health care, and has just finished a 30-city
tour promoting his first work of fiction, "Only the Super Rich Can Save Us,"
published by Seven Stories Press .

The book uses real-life characters, such as Warren Buffett and Warren Beatty
, who use their power and money for the common good.

Nader's selling strategy was to sit in airport bookstores, where the
instantly recognizable consumer advocate immediately drew attention.

"I was in Vegas as the National Association of Realtors' convention let
out," he said. "I could have sat there for eight hours, signing books."

According to Ruth Weiner , a spokeswoman for the publisher, Nader's 733-page
book has sold "incredibly well" and is about two-thirds of the way through
its 30,000 printing.


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*************************************************
Tim McKee -National Committee of the Green Party for the state of
Connecticut, New Britain,CT
(860)778-1304 Cell- best way to reach me
(860) 505-8454 (H)
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