Could Chafee Be the 2020 Version of Ralph Nader and Be the Spoiler for the Democrats
Monday, January 06, 2020
Next year will be the 20th anniversary of George Bush’s win over Al Gore for the Presidency -- and many Democrats still blame Ralph Nader’s Green Party candidacy for the narrow loss.
It was an election in which the United States Supreme Court ultimately decided the fate of the Florida race, which then decided the outcome of the Presidency.
Nader, then-the country's leading Progressive with a rich history as a leading consumer advocate, garnered 2.74% of the vote nationally in 2000.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTIn Florida, Bush defeated Gore by 537 votes. Nader received 97,421 votes, which led to claims that he was responsible for Gore's defeat.
Former Rhode Island Governor and U.S. Senator Lincoln Chafee, who is now officially running for the Libertarian Party nomination, told GoLocalProv.com he has "heard the comparisons" to Nader.
And he is undeterred.
Chafee on the Record
"I hear you," said Chafee, who spoke with GoLocal from his new home in Wyoming Monday morning, when asked about the possibility that he could win the Libertarian Party nomination -- and garner enough votes from Democrats to ensure the reelection of President Donald Trump.
"I hear the concerns. But I'm the only candidate running on an anti-war, anti-deficit campaign. There's no one among the Democrats or Republicans running on that," said Chafee. "A new voice is needed."
Chafee, who said he had been considering running for President again, after running briefly as a Democrat in 2016, told GoLocal that the recent escalation in the middle east that solidified his decision to seek the Libertarian nomination.
"When I joined the Libertarian Party, and became regularly involved out in Wyoming, the possibility came up to compete for the nomination, and then with what's happened with Iraq and Iran -- we need an anti-war voice," said Chafee.
Chafee said that what he learned in 2016 is that "minor, trivial issues" will be magnified during a presidential campaign -- and that he hopes to focus on his main messages.
"Ending the wars, ending capital punishment, and addressing our country's deficit," said Chafee. "Our deficit is a trillion dollars a year adding up to $22.7 trillion in total. We pay $4 billion a year on interest alone. It’s a big piece of our budget pie — and when we get into conflicts, with no end in sight, well being anti-war and anti-deficit go hand in hand."
Chafee, who had served on the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations while in office, said he believes there are "no easy answers" in the Middle East.
"And when we get into conflicts, our civil liberties get threatened -- just look at the wire-tapping taking place," said Chafee.
"Again, I'm not running for President just yet. Remember, I'm new to the [Libertarian] party. I'm working to win the nomination," he added.
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