Democrats cry fraud in Nader drive; workers say they will sue to get paid

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Michael Currie Schaffer

Inquirer Staff Writer


Up to 90 percent of the nominating petitions circulated in Philadelphia by Ralph Nader's presidential campaign were marred by forgeries and other improprieties, according to a group of Democrats that plans to file a legal challenge in Commonwealth Court today to keep the independent candidate off the state's general election ballot.

Separately, a Philadelphia lawyer said yesterday that he would file a lawsuit against Nader this morning on behalf of dozens of petition circulators, many of them homeless, who he said had not been paid for their work.

The challenges come a week after Nader submitted about 45,000 petition signatures, well more than the 25,697 required to get on the ballot. About 30,000 signatures were gathered in Philadelphia, the group said. The effort attracted national attention because many Democrats fear that Nader could drain enough support from Sen. John Kerry to throw Pennsylvania's 21 key electoral votes to President Bush.

"This is the worst nomination petition or paper that I have seen in the last 15 years," said Gregory M. Harvey, an election-law attorney working for the group challenging Nader's nominating petitions.

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[jean]

1. it's bush-based for sure - it's his trademark bait and switch

They are so arrogant and think they can bribe the destitute and then not pay them. I hope the courts burn the butts of the forgers and liars involved in this.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. What makes you assume that the homeless petition circulators

were not the ones committing the forgery? Paying (or promising to pay) a certain amount for each signature could could be too tempting for someone with an empty stomache.

[jean]

3. Dang! I forgot we can't depend on the homeless to do their part in

the democratic process! My inclination is to blame the paymasters instead of the destitute, but that's just me.

Do you think the paymasters kept records of their work or made the petitioners sign pledges? It will be interesting to see what the investigation uncovers.

[bleedingheart]

4. This proves to me that Nader won't garner many votes if he does

succeed on getting on the ballot.

Clearly if there were legions of supporters, like he thinks he has for this campaign, then he would have legal signatures....