Nader supporters submit Nebraska signatures

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By NATE JENKINS / The Associated Press

Supporters of Ralph Nader turned in what they say are probably enough petition signatures to put the political activist and consumer advocate on the state’s presidential ballot.

Nader, whom some Democrats blame for Al Gore’s close loss in the 2000 presidential race, plans to visit Nebraska sometime this fall, said Aaron Lotz, a leader of his Nebraska campaign efforts.

“It’s a race, and everyone should have the opportunity to run, and may the best man win,” Lotz said in response to the common criticism of Nader as a presidential spoiler. Nader has run for president several times, including in 2004.

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Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader speaks during a rally Tuesday at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP)

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader speaks during a rally Tuesday at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP)

On Friday, Lotz handed Secretary of State John Gale what he said was about 5,500 signatures.

About half that many signatures are needed to get a candidate on the ballot, but they must meet specific criteria. Signatures from voters who registered as members of political parties and who cast ballots in the last presidential primary won’t count, but signatures from independents who voted in the primary will.

Gale’s office has 10 days to tally and verify the number of valid signatures.

Nader is running as an independent. Independent voters have become a significant slice of the national electorate and could tip the close race between two candidates who are trying to woo them, John McCain, a Republican, and Barack Obama, a Democrat.

Obama’s campaign is hoping to win the electoral vote tied to Nebraska’s 2nd House District. Nebraska and Maine are the only two states that can split their electoral votes.

Nader is on presidential ballots in 30 states, Lotz said, and campaign officials have said they are shooting for 45.

Time magazine once named Nader one of the 100 most influential Americans of the 20th century. He first gained wide fame from his 1965 book, “Unsafe At Any Speed,” an indictment of many U.S.-made automobiles.