Nader delights in role of party pooper

TAMPA -- Al Gore and Joe Lieberman could hardly hold a reunion with Florida Democrats without Ralph Nader crashing the party.

So as Democratic big shots gather for their party convention in Orlando this weekend, it seems appropriate for Nader to swing into Florida.

That's precisely what Nader will do Saturday night as he headlines his "People Have the Power Tour" at the USF Sun Dome.

There are few human beings more reviled by Democratic leaders than Nader.

As the Green Party presidential candidate in 2000, he won nearly 3 percent of the vote nationally and more than 97,000 votes in Florida. Had one in 100 of those progressive Nader votes in Florida gone to Gore, Democrats would hold the White House.

Nader makes no apologies, and in fact sounded delighted to be coming to Florida at the same time as the Democratic convention.

"A veritable showcase of political ditto-heads," he called it in a recent phone interview.

"How far is it to Orlando? Who knows, maybe I'll head over there," he mused, after dismissing the pool of potential Democratic candidates for 2004. "They basically are competing for who goes into the White House in order to take marching orders from corporate interests."

Nader said he hasn't decided whether to run for president again, but he is acting like a candidate. His Tampa rally/concert is the eighth one his new group, Democracy Rising, has held nationally to energize a progressive grass-roots political movement.

Scheduled to join Nader at the rally are filmmaker Michael Moore, musician Patti Smith, spoken word artist Jello Biafra and others. The rally starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door; children 12 and under are free.

The tour is promoting better funding for education, health care reform, environmental protection, election reform, a better wages.

For tickets to the rally or more information, call (813) 232-5300 or visit www.democracyrising.org.

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