Nader urges Kerry to stop opposition

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Ralph Nader's presidential campaign is urging Democratic contender John Kerry to condemn a new political group, the National Progress Fund, which is running ads telling Nader supporters that voting for the consumer advocate would help President Bush.

"We would like to see a clear message from Mr. Kerry that he opposes this effort against Ralph Nader," said Nader campaign spokesman Kevin Zeese. "If we don't get it, we will feel that he deserves credit for it."

The fund is being headed by former aides from the failed presidential campaigns and offices of Wesley Clark and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, as well as a former aide from the office of Rep. Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri, another Democratic presidential contender from 2004.

On the fund's Web site, www.TheNaderFactor.com, the group says Mr. Nader's candidacy in 2000 actually hurt his liberal agenda by helping elect Mr. Bush.

And it crystallizes the Democratic fear in two sentences: "Poll after poll after poll show one thing: Ralph Nader is once again becoming a deciding factor. It is time for us to stand together in defense of the issues we care about most."

The site also urges people to "join a community of other Nader supporters and progressive Democrats uniting to fight the radical right-wing agenda."

The group will begin this week airing a television ad in Wisconsin and New Mexico featuring a sheepish Nader 2000 voter.

"Four years ago, I supported Ralph Nader because he stood for the issues I believe in. I feel I made a mistake," Maryland schoolteacher Bob Schick says in the 30-second spot. "By supporting Ralph Nader, I actually helped George Bush."

Mr. Nader yesterday said on ABC's "This Week" that his foes on the left should be trying to earn the respect of the "8 million" Democratic voters who cast ballots for President Bush in 2000.

"For every Bob Schick, there are nine times more Democrats who could have started an ad this way," Mr. Nader said. "'Hi, I'm a Democrat. And in the year 2000, I supported George W. Bush because I thought he was not going to engage in nation-building, because I thought he was a compassionate conservative.'