July 23, 2004
 

John Kerry
John Kerry for President
901 15th Street, NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005

Dear Senator Kerry:

When we last talked, I indicated to you that your Party underlings are maliciously trying to keep the Nader-Camejo Campaign off the ballot and that you were inviting a mini-Watergate if you do not put a stop to these actions.  You told me that there were “some groups you controlled and some you didn’t” and you would “look into the situation.”

The Nader-Camejo Campaign is particularly concerned about the actions of the Democratic Party to limit the voters choices. In conversations with me, Terry McAuliffe has said he approved of these actions in 19 battleground states! Among the actions taken by the Democrats:

- Harassment, threats and abuse of Nader-Camejo petitioners;

- Attempting to spoil a ballot access convention in Oregon by sending Democrats in to fill the room and undermine the convention by swelling the numbers and then not signing the petitions;

- Using Howard Dean to keep us off the ballot even though on July 9 in a debate with he said: “I refuse to participate in anything like that, because I don't appreciate that.  Some of my former staff members are doing that. I told them I wasn't going to have anything to do with them.”  Yet, when the Nader-Camejo Campaign held ballot access conventions in Oregon Dean, according to reporters, called reporters on both days in order to suppress turnout.

- Using state employees, contractors and interns who work for the State of Illinois Democratic Speaker of the House to review and challenge signatures on Nader-Camejo ballot access petitions.

- Hiring corporate law firms to harass our ballot efforts on frivolous and technical grounds.

I am writing to once again request that you disavow these actions and tell Democratic Party officials to stop their efforts to keep the  Nader-Camejo Campaign off the ballot.

I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
 

Ralph Nader