Ralph Naders Impact on the 2000 and 2004 US Presidential Elections

Abstract

Ralph Nader helped George W. Bush beat Al Gore in 2000. But Nader was irrelevant to Bush's victory against Kerry in 2004. Nader damaged the Democratic Party in 2000, but not in 2004. In fact, he was the most important person in George W. Bush's "win" in 2000. So Nader was ecstatic. Florida and New Hampshire went for Bush in 2000 because Nader supporters outvoted Al Gore. On the other hand, Ralph Nader's third presidential bid in 2004 was a far cry from his surprising campaign in which many saw him as a third party. Here we look into his causes of death. We show that in his major states in the Pacific, Mountain, and New England regions, Nader's support has shifted away from progressive non-churchgoers and toward conservatives, Republican identifiers, and casual Protestants (owing in large part to ballot access concerns). We believe that after the 2000 election, Nader's public image began to diminish, and his remaining support began to resemble the "other" vote that backed him four years earlier. Even though they are young, his supporters are less likely to participate and more likely to have different ideas than they were in the past. While angry Democrats, pragmatic progressives, and the media all seemed to disregard Ralph Nader in 2004, he managed to stay in the public eye as a narrative and anti-candidate. Relax and rejoice, “He responded when asked about the left's reaction to Nader. This year, he is likely to appeal to conservatives and independents disenchanted with George W. Bush's policies. "The party's out-of-power members come back," he told NPR. "The problem lies with the party in power." Many of Ralph Nader's fans are criticizing him. Many Democrats and liberals believe his apparent willingness to vote for George W. Bush as the Green Party nominee (thus...