Nader Gets His Chance to Debate -- With Dean

Ralph Nader probably won’t get the chance he wants to debate President Bush and Sen. John F. Kerry this fall. But next week, he will get a shot at one of the candidates Kerry defeated in the Democratic presidential primaries: Howard Dean.

Dean and Nader are scheduled to conduct a 90-minute debate July 9 at the National Press Club in Washington, a forum in which a major question no doubt will be what Nader is trying to accomplish with his independent presidential run.

Dean is urging his former supporters on the Democratic left wing to back Kerry. He contends that a vote for Nader is tantamount to a vote to reelect Bush.

“I am anxious to debate Ralph Nader in order to speak about why he wants to run for president,” the former Vermont governor said. “This is the most important election in my lifetime and a third-party candidate could make a difference -- this November and for years to come.”

Nader spokesman Kevin Zeese responded that the question of whether the consumer advocate should run “is kind of a boring issue. It’s been raised a million times.”

Zeese added that Nader was in the race to stay.

Nader contends that efforts to squelch his candidacy are antidemocratic. He also says his voice is needed because, in his view, both major parties kowtow to corporate interests and are in league on major issues, such as the Iraq war. Nader opposes the war, while Kerry voted for the October 2002 congressional resolution authorizing Bush to invade Iraq.

Dean, during his candidacy for the Democratic nomination, sharply criticized the Massachusetts senator for that vote. But now Dean is training his fire on Nader, warning that he could hurt Kerry the way he damaged Democrat Al Gore in the 2000 election.

The debate will be taped for the National Public Radio show “Justice Talking,” and edited for broadcast on a later date.

Nader has pushed for a spot onstage with Kerry and Bush at presidential debates planned for September and October. But under the debate sponsors’ criteria, it is doubtful he will be invited.

Nader’s candidacy is at a critical point following his failure on Saturday to win an endorsement from the Green Party, support that may have gained him ballot access in at least 22 states, including California. He was the party’s presidential nominee in 1996 and 2000.

Last weekend he revved up his efforts to make the ballot in Oregon and Washington state.