3,711 is magic number
for Nader in HawaiiThat is how many signatures
he needs to get on the ballot
Consumer advocate Ralph Nader turns 70 tomorrow, and he is looking for 3,711 friends in Hawaii to help him celebrate.
Nader is running for president this year as an independent. Unlike four years ago, when Nader ran as the presidential candidate for the Green Party, Nader must get his name on the ballot on all 50 states without any organized political party help this year.
To qualify for the Hawaii ballot, Nader needs to submit a petition to the state elections office with at least 3,711 signatures of registered voters.
Nader's national organization reports that it is looking for "volunteers and a state coordinator for Hawaii," according to Theresa Amato, Nader national campaign manager. Those interested can apply through Nader's Web site, www.votenader.org .
Volunteers who ran Nader's 2000 campaign, however, say that while they still like Nader's stand on campaign issues, they will not be supporting him.
"Everybody I know said, 'Ralph, don't run,'" Ira Rohter, Green Party co-chairman, said.
"I don't see much support there, not from students nor other voters," Rohter, a University of Hawaii political scientist, said.
The Hawaii chairman of the Nader in 2000 campaign, Scott Foster, said he also would not be helping the consumer advocate this year.
Foster said that he considered himself to be "an independent Democrat" and would not support Nader's campaign again.
Both Rohter and Foster, however, said they did not think that Nader's 2000 campaign lured Democrats away from the Gore campaign, saying Nader in Hawaii was drawing voters from independents, Democrats and Republicans.
But Alex Santiago, Hawaii Democratic Party chairman, disagreed, saying Gore would be president today if Nader had not run.
"I think Nader cost Gore the election," Santiago said.
"Hopefully, that lesson has been learned and the race won't even be close this time," Santiago said.
Four years ago, Nader picked up 21,623 votes, or 5.8 percent of the vote. Gore won Hawaii with 205,286 votes.
