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Arizona democrats take nader off the ballot { June 23 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/06/23/politics1825EDT0710.DTLhttp://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2004/06/23/politics1825EDT0710.DTL
Arizona Democrats file challenge to Nader
- JACQUES BILLEAUD, Associated Press Writer
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
(06-23) 18:24 PDT PHOENIX (AP) --
Two Arizona voters on Wednesday filed the first Democratic challenge to independent Ralph Nader's bid to get on a state's November presidential ballot.
The Democrats' lawsuit alleged that more than 70 percent of the 21,500 petition signatures recently filed for Nader are invalid. Nader needs 14,694 valid signatures to get on Arizona's ballot.
Democrats Dorothy Schultz and Betty Elizabeth Hughes also alleged in the complaint that some of those who circulated petitions for Nader didn't meet residency requirements and other qualifications. Three of the petition circulators are prohibited from gathering signatures because they are convicted felons, the lawsuit said.
"If (Nader) is going to be on the ballot, it has to be in a legitimate way," said Arizona Democratic Chairman Jim Pederson.
The Arizona Democratic Party, which under state law cannot file the challenge in its name, said it supports the lawsuit. The complaint also alleges that Nader's campaign didn't adequately comply with a requirement to designate a running mate. Nader's filing listed a "stand-in," but he since has named longtime Green Party activist Peter Camejo.
Nader spokesman Kevin Zeese dismissed the complaint, which was filed in state court.
"I don't think it's a very credible challenge," he said.
Pederson said the party had informed Democrat John Kerry's campaign about the lawsuit.
"They said, 'You're on your own,' basically," but did not try to stop it, he said.
Allison Dobson, a Kerry spokeswoman, said the state party has a right to enforce the rules.
"We're abiding by them and it's only fair that others abide by them, too," Dobson said.
Yier Shi, a Republican National Committee spokesman, said the lawsuit will disenfranchise voters.
"The Arizona Democratic Party has found the time and energy to file a frivolous lawsuit that undermines the voting rights of 22,000 voters in Arizona," she said.
Many Democrats blame Nader, a Green Party presidential candidate in 2000, for taking away liberal votes from Democrat Al Gore and helping ensure President Bush's victory. Nader says Gore ran a poor campaign.
Nader is not yet on any state ballot. He has been endorsed by the national Reform Party, which has ballot lines in seven states, including the battlegrounds of Florida and Michigan. He also is seeking the endorsement of the Green Party, which has secured ballot access in 22 states and the District of Columbia.
His campaign said he expects to appear on the ballot in 45 states.
Last month, Nader filed a lawsuit in Texas to try to compete there, alleging a petition signature requirement is unconstitutional.
On the Net:
Nader campaign: www.votenader.org
©2004 Associated Press
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