February 24, 2008
Read More: Ralph Nader
My colleague Beth Frerking, on Clinton's plane, emails:
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton said Sunday she hoped that Ralph Nader’s bid for the president was “a passing fancy” and blamed him for former Vice President Al Gore’s loss in 2000.
‘“His being on the Green Party prevented Al Gore from being the greenest president we could have had, and I think that’s really unfortunate. I think we paid a big price for it. I’m pretty sad about that,” Clinton told reporters on the campaign plane as she was enroute to several appearances in Rhode Island and Boston.
Clinton was unaware, until questioned about by reporters, that Nader had announced Sunday morning on NBC’s “Meet the Press” that he had decided to enter the 2008 race, and was clearly surprised at the news.
“Well that’s really unfortunate. I remember when he did this before. It did not turn out very well for anybody, most especially our country,” she said. “This time I hope it doesn’t hurt anybody. I hope it’s kind of a passing fancy that people don’t take too seriously.”
She made it clear that a Nader bid would only hurt Democrats. “Because I can’t think of any Republicans who would vote for him. I can’t think of any people who would vote for Sen. McCain who would vote for Ralph Nader.”
