[GPCA Updates] GP RELEASE Greens respond to Nader's decision to run as independent

[Green Party of California Updates]

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Friday, February 29, 2008


Greens respond to Ralph Nader's decision not to seek the Green Party nomination

• Party leaders wish Mr. Nader well in his campaign, affirm that the
Green Party will choose nominees at the Green National Convention in
Chicago, July 10-13


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders expressed their disappointment
in Ralph Nader's decision, announced on Thursday, not to seek the 2008
Green presidential nomination.

"A lot of Greens have supported Mr. Nader and wanted him to win the
party's nomination.  There has been an active effort by many Green
leaders to 'draft' Mr. Nader as a Green candidate, and his success in
recent Green primaries demonstrates that he remains a very popular
figure within the Green Party.  There is widespread disappointment
among Greens that he chose to go a different route," said  Phil
Huckelberry, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

Four candidates are seeking the Green nomination, which will be
decided at the Green Party's National Convention in Chicago, July
10-13.  Jesse Johnson, Cynthia McKinney, Kent Mesplay, and Kat Swift
are touring the US and meeting Greens and other voters.

"The Green Party intends to run a ticket of Green nominees, and we're
working hard to get their names on the ballot lines of every state and
the District of Columbia.  We look forward to party unity behind our
nominees.  We wish Ralph Nader and [running mate] Matt Gonzalez well
in their independent campaign," said Clifford Thornton, also a
co-chair of the Green Party.

Currently, 21 state Green Parties hold ballot access within their
respective states, and Greens anticipate adding Arizona to the list
soon.  Five state Green Parties have participated in primaries; other
Green Parties are measuring preference for presidential candidates
through caucuses and statewide meetings.

Mr. Nader ran as the Green nominee in 1996 and 2000.  In 2004, David
Cobb won the Green nomination, while Mr. Nader ran as an independent.

The Green Party has opened a web page featuring videos of Green
presidential candidates and debates
<http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/presidential-videos.php>.

List of Green presidential candidates and their campaign web sites:

• Jesse Johnson http://www.jesse08.org

• Cynthia McKinney http://www.runcynthiarun.org

• Kent Mesplay http://www.mesplay.org

• Kat Swift http://www.voteswift.org


MORE INFORMATION

Green Party of the United States http://www.gp.org
202-319-7191, 866-41GREEN
Fax 202-319-7193
• Video of Green presidential candidates
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/presidential-videos.php
• Green candidate database for 2007 and other campaign information:
http://www.gp.org/elections.shtml
• Green Party News Center http://www.gp.org/newscenter.shtml
• Green Party Speakers Bureau http://www.gp.org/speakers
• Green Party ballot access page http://www.gp.org/2008-elections
• 2008 Green National Convention: Live Green, Vote Green
http://www.gp.org/2008-elections/index.shtml
• Media credentialing http://www.gp.org/committees/media/kit.shtml


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