Nader Scoffs at Dean Plea to Quit Race

Howard Dean argued, flattered, cajoled -- to no avail.

In a lively radio debate Friday, the former Democratic presidential candidate tried to get Ralph Nader to abandon his long-shot White House bid. Nader, the man Democrats blame for President Bush’s election, vowed to continue his independent campaign.

“Ralph, I think you’re being disingenuous about your candidacy this year, and let me tell you why,” Dean began. “Forty-six percent of all your signatures to get you on the Arizona ballot turned out to be Republican supporters. You accepted the support of a right-wing fanatic Republican group that’s anti-gay in order to help you get on the ballot in Oregon.”

“This is not going to help the progressive cause in America,” said Dean, who had been urging his supporters to stay within the party and vote for the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. John F. Kerry.

Nader dismissed the criticism, telling the studio audience that Dean was engaging “in a desperate attempt to smear our campaign.”

The former Vermont governor then tried flattery.

“You have an extraordinary career in standing up for the American people. You have saved lives with your extraordinary work with automobile safety,” Dean told the consumer advocate. “I wish you were on our team, Ralph, because we really need you.”

Nader again was unmoved.

There were some lighter moments during the hour-long debate sponsored by the National Public Radio program “Justice Talking.” Nader drew laughter when he called Dean “an insurgent who is now adopting a role of being a detergent of the dirty linen of the Democratic Party.” Even Dean chuckled.

Since Nader announced his campaign in February, Democrats had beseeched him not to run.