Is Dean staying in at Dem's request hoping to keep Nader out?

[Merlin]

I suggest that the main reason Nader is talking about running again is that Dean is finished. We know that Nader liked Dean and actually saw him as different from Bush. I'm sure Nader considers Kerry just another corporate whore (just sayin').

There is all kinds of evidence the good Doctor's crew is bailing after Tuesday. His charter plane contract has been cancelled. Speaking engagements are off. He returns to VT on Wed. Yet he continues to say (ala on FAUX this AM) that he's staying in. Why?

First, I think he wants to keep as much of his supportive "organization" together as possible -- the 300,000 contributors, which are probably now dwindled to a tenth that, but still a significan number.

Second, I would not doubt he has been invited to stay in the race by other Dems who see his potential viability as a way to keep Nader from getting in the race. Why otherwise have Kerry and others made favorable comments about him recently ?

These are merely rambling hypotheses. Anybody with a better explanation?

[bluestateguy]

1. nader liked kucinich

Nader called Dean a "moderate Democrat" with a "mediocre" record. I suppose we could nominate a high ranking member of the Central Committee of the old Soviet Union to win over all the Nader voters, but we might have a little problem with the other 97+% of the voters.

[ncrainbowgrrl]

2. I didn't even think of this as a situation.

But now that I do, it makes perfect sense to me. And it also kinda explains all of the other candidates staying in and trying to stall this thing as long as possible.

[eileen_d]

3. I don't think your hypotheses are based on solid ground.

First, my own take: I think Dean is staying in because he still has a very strong base of supporters. And I have no problem with this at all, just as I would have no problem with Nader running. Anyone who says that these men are a threat to Kerry needs to turn around and work all the harder for Kerry's nomination, if that's what your goal is. Using Nader as a scapegoat does not fly with me and never has, although I am not a fan of Nader (or Dean for that matter) in the least.

Now, for some objectively questionable things about your hypotheses:
1) "We all know that Nader liked Dean" - ???? I thought Nader liked Kucinich.
2) Dean has been invited to stay in the race to prevent a Nader run - and your basis for this is that Kerry and others have said nice things about him? Sorry, I need some meat on those bones before I'll even consider it.

[diamondsoul]

4. The sole source of that rumour

is the NYT. Um, not exactly a bastion of accurate reporting these days. Meanwhile just in the past month, Ralph Nader has said publicly on three different nationally televised appearances "I support Dennis Kucinich." without a single mention of Howard Dean at all.

Don't be a sucker for a right-wing rags BS.

My own interpretation is that Nder sees the total blackout going on against Kucinich and is worried that the progressive voice will be completely wiped out, and so is seriously considering jumping in. Let him if he thinks that's the right thing to do.