Nader in 2010!

Consumer advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader is "absorbing" the feedback he's getting about a potential run for the U.S. Senate, saying that before he makes a decision he wants to see what kind of grassroots support exists. Nader has been asked by many, including the Connecticut Green Party to get into the hotly contested race in to challenge Democratic Senator Chris Dodd. Dodd has been struggling in recent polls. Independents and Ned Lamont supporters, the Democrat who challenged Senator Joe Lieberman in the 2006 election, are also asking Ralph to run.

I'm just absorbing a lot of the feedback before I make a decision. It really depends on what kind of momentum there is and how many people are willing to roll up their sleeves because I'm very accustomed to people saying 'run Ralph run' and then they drift away, predisposed and preoccupied with their daily life. It has to be bottom up.

Over a hundred people turned up at the Noah Webster Library in West Hartford last Friday to hear Nader talk about his book, Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!, including Green Party members who held signs that read, "Run Ralph Run!" The state's Green Party has been doing more to persuade Nader to run, arguing that this situation marks one of the best opportunities for the Greens to win a seat in the Senate.

When Vic Lancia of Portland had Nader sign a copy of his book, he told him that he wants to help out with a Senate campaign:

I'm retired, Ralph. I've got good legs to go to work for you. Give me something to do next year Ralph.

Tim McKee, a spokesperson for the Connecticut Green Party, said the party is dedicated to proving there will be support, with not only volunteers but also financial providers as well. McKee said he's happy to see individuals not associated with the Green Party starting internet and social networking sites, encouraging Nader to run.

We're getting responses all across the nation. It's on all the blogs and stuff. They want him to run to win. That's the most important thing. This is not symbolic or anything like that. It's a run to win kind of effort.

Given his impressive record and accomplishments, his personal integrity and unwavering progressive message and platfrom, Nader is seen as the best person who can reform government and hold the banking industry accountable. Dodd has been criticized of late for his ties to the banking industry, while serving as the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. A recent Quinnipiac University Poll found 54 percent of voters disapprove of his job performance. Nader wants to verify if the Conneticut electorate are truly frustrated with Dodd and if there are enough people and volunteers to work in the state's 169 towns "for a new breed of political representation in Washington."

Nader complimented Dodd by saying that he is "very personable" and that Dodd shouldn't be brushed off. He also cautioned against conjecture that Connecticut's senior senator could be advised by fellow senior Democrats not to seek re-election. But Nader did add that Dodd "has been very concessionary to the banks and the brokerage houses for years." Dodd's office and Connecticut Democrats have refused to say anyting about a potential Nader run.

Draft Nader For (Connecticut) US Senate 2010 - Facebook

Online petition: Nader for U.S. Senate 2010

Connecticut Greens Would Welcome Nader Run For Senate

Nader interviewed by Cindy Sheehan yesterday. The interview starts at approximately 1:45: