Greens Prepare For Presidential Primary Without Nader WASHINGTON

Greens Prepare For Presidential Primary Without Nader

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Two-time Green presidential candidate Ralph Nader
yesterday informed party leaders that he will not be joining six other
declared candidates in seeking the Green Party nomination for the
presidency in 2004. Many Greens expressed surprise and regret at Nader's
decision.

"Most of us believe that had he run for the nomination, Nader would have
quickly secured the delegates necessary to win the Green nomination, and
we told him as much," said Ben Manski, co-chair of the Green Party of the
United States.

Six candidates have declared their intention to compete in the Green Party
Presidential Primaries: Peter Camejo (CA), David Cobb (CA), Paul Glover
(NY), Kent Mesplay (NY), Carol Miller (NM), and Lorna Salzman (NY).

Nader had informed Green Party officials that he would give the party an
indication of whether he intended to seek the nomination by Christmas.
Nader said yesterday that he is still mulling over a possible independent
run for the presidency.

Greens noted that an independent Nader candidacy would be significantly
weaker without the infrastructure of a party to place his name on state
ballots, and asserted that an independent progressive candidacy would not
advance the movement for a longstanding independent party in a multiparty
democracy, one of the major goals of the Green Party.

Green officials also noted that Nader's decision not to enter the
primaries would open space for new fresh faces to bear the Green banner.

"Voters are facing a growing number of choices in the Green primaries with
every new month, and we're certain that the candidate who garners the
Green nomination will be an all-around winner," said Jo Chamberlain, co-chair of
the Green Party of the United States.

The Green Party of the United States holds ballot lines in 21 states and
D.C., affiliates in 43 states, over 300,000 registered members, and over
200 officials serving in elected office. The Green Party Presidential
Nomination Convention will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June
23-28th.
Delegates to the Convention will be democratically elected in primaries,
caucuses, and state conventions, beginning in January.

MORE INFORMATION

Green Party Presidential Nomination Convention & Candidates:
http://www.gp.org/convention/process.html

The Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org
1700 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 404
Washington, DC 20009.
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193

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