----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Petkov" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <long list of recipients snipped>
Sent: Friday, July 14, 2000 10:45 PM
Subject: [July30] Ventura and Nader meet
July 30 in Philly - www.unity2000.com
Buchanan will be left in the dust:
Ventura gives Nader a boost
Ashley H. Grant Associated Press
Saturday, July 15, 2000
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Two of the biggest third-party political names in the country met Friday to
commiserate over how tough it is to get funding, recognition and their names
on the ballot, and to brainstorm about making it better.
Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader and Minnesota Independence
Party Gov. Jesse Ventura were brimming with ideas after their nearly
hourlong
chat in the governor's office.
``It's very clear what happens whenever a third-party movement begins to
gain
strength. The two major parties come together and do whatever they can to
squash that third party,'' Ventura said.
Ventura and Nader, a longtime consumer advocate, talked about legalizing
industrial hemp, getting better ballot access for third parties and lowering
the cutoff from 15 percent to 5 percent support for allowing candidates into
national debates.
Recent polls have shown Nader's backing at about 6 percent of likely voters
nationally.
Ventura pointed out that before he participated in Minnesota debates, he was
polling about 10 percent and wouldn't have been allowed into the debates if
the state and national guidelines were the same.
``Let's remember polling data is also fraudulent,'' Ventura said. ``It
doesn't
include people who have quit voting, young people ....''
Aside from trying to get that percentage lowered, Nader said he also would
work to get regional labor and other groups to sponsor large-scale debates
with Democrat Al Gore, Republican George Bush, Reformer Pat Buchanan and
himself.
``If anything, it will keep people from falling asleep as they watch the
drab
debate the dreary,'' Nader said.
This was the first meeting between Nader and the flamboyant former
professional wrestler who won Minnesota's highest office as the Reform Party
candidate.
Nader didn't seek an endorsement from Ventura, and the governor didn't offer
one - yet.
Ventura said if he did endorse anyone, it likely wouldn't be until at least
September. So far, Nader appears to be the only candidate who might qualify
for an endorsement from Ventura, who has said he would not back a Democrat,
Republican or Buchanan.
Asked whether he would campaign for Nader on specific issues they had
discussed, Ventura grinned.
``I think I'm doing that now, aren't I?'' he said.
Friday evening, about 100 people attended a $100 per-head fund-raising
dinner
for Nader at the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis.
``We should never prejudge election outcomes. You know that in Minnesota,''
he
said, telling supporters to get out and vote, and take 100 people along.
One of those supporters, Mark Gustafson, 48, of Champlin, said he spent $300
for himself, his wife and his daughter to attend the dinner - about half his
weekly paycheck.
Gustafson, a member of Ventura's Independence Party, said he has been a
Nader
supporter since 1969. He said the cost of the dinner was well worth it to
help
someone who preaches corporate responsibility.
``I'm ready to go broke,'' he said.
After the fund raiser, several thousand people packed into the University of
Minnesota's Willey Hall in Minneapolis to hear Nader speak.
After a 1996 presidential run in which he didn't campaign and spent less
than
$5,000, Nader said in an interview he is serious this time. He is
campaigning
nationwide and says he has raised about $1 million, hoping for a total take
of
$5 million.
He has cited Ventura as an example of what can be done. At the Green Party
national convention last month, Nader told delegates that if the Republicans
and Democrats think he is joking about his chances of winning, they should
talk to the disaffected Minnesota voters who made Ventura their governor.
One of his biggest challenges is getting beyond the serious image of
consumer
advocate.
``He's humorless. He's not charismatic, and he's not fun,'' said Steven
Schier, a political science professor at Carleton College in Northfield.
``Ralph Nader needs attention and there's no better way to get attention
than
to stand next to Jesse Ventura.''
Nader admitted he has a few things to learn from the governor.
``He has a certain constituency, many of whom hadn't voted before voting for
him,'' he said. ``We're trying to appeal to them in a very systematic way.''
While his odds of winning appear slim, he has begun to eat into Gore's
support, which could affect the race. Recent national polls have shown
Nader's
support in most states is coming at Gore's expense.
Gore campaign manager William Daley conceded earlier this week that Nader
threatens to siphon support from Gore.
``My impression is that the Gore campaign is not losing any sleep over
this,''
Nader said. ``If Al Gore is not losing sleep over this, why should I worry
about Al Gore? I'm worried about his taking votes from me.''
Nader recently hired Bill Hillsman, the unconventional admaker who helped
Ventura in the 1998 gubernatorial campaign. Hillsman, based in Minneapolis,
plans to film new footage of Nader during his trip to Minnesota.
Return to top � Copyright 2000 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
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