Nader says Greens to stay in US politics

WASHINGTON - Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader defiantly rejected suggestions he cost Democrat Al Gore an undisputed victory and said his party would remain a progressive force.

"What about taking votes from Al Gore? This is probably the most impudent assertion of (about) our campaign," Nader told a news conference in Washington.

Gore remains locked in a too-close-to-call race for the presidency with Republican George W. Bush that hinges on the outcome of a recount in Florida, where Bush held a narrow lead in preliminary results. Gore led the national popular vote.

Nader's 96,701 votes in Florida would have been more than enough to hand a clear victory to Gore. The two fought over pro-environment, pro-labor voters with Nader trying to portray Gore as sellout to corporate interests.

Nader said Gore should have been able to win by a landslide. "Gore had all the advantages of an incumbent administration but he never generated enthusiasm," he said.

"I've always said that it was Al Gore's election to lose. Only Al Gore could beat Al Gore," he said.

``In the end the Democratic party must face the fact that it has abandoned its progressive roots. The party has been seized by its conservative, reactionary, pro-corporate wing,'' he said.

``They need to take a long close look at their party and the empty campaign waged by Al Gore,'' he said.

Nader's 3 percent vote total nationwide fell short of his goal of winning the 5 percent needed to qualify for federal matching funds in the next presidential election.

Nevertheless, ``The Green party is alive and well,'' he said. ''The campaign has established the Greens as a viable political force.''

Most Americans want a viable third party ``to keep the two parties in Washington more honest,'' he said. ``I think we are positioned to do that.''

He termed the matching funds ``more as a convenience than as a necessity'' and said the time and energy of the party' supporters was more important.

Nader also recounted what he said were successes in breaching the 5 percent barrier in eleven states, including Alaska, where he got 10 percent.

``We'll be back in future elections, especially if Al Gore wins the presidency, he will have ample time to demonstrate that once again relying on Al Gore is a very risky proposition.

- REUTERS

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