(CNN) - His name causes shivers in many Democratic circles, but Ralph Nader said Thursday his campaign history won't prevent him from another foray into national politics.
Nader, a persona non grata to many Democrats after he ran as a third-party candidate against Al Gore and George W. Bush in 2000, explained on CNN why he was recruiting potential candidates to run against Pres. Barack Obama in a Democratic primary.
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(CNN) - Watch Rep. Ron Paul and Ralph Nader as they discuss what they think is wrong with the two-party political system and why they think third parties should get more attention in political dialogue.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/02/28/art.gonzales.gi.jpg caption=" Matt Gonzalez ran for mayor of San Francisco in 2003."](CNN) - Ralph Nader has selected a former San Francisco city official as his running mate in the presidential race.
Nader announced his selection of Matt Gonzalez, who served as a public defender and a member of the board of supervisors in San Francisco, at a news conference Wednesday.
"It is an honor to run with Mr. Nader," Gonzalez said. "I hold him in high esteem and share his politics."
Gonzalez said his priorities in the campaign are election reform, poverty and the war in Iraq.
"I find Matt Gonzalez unwavering in his principles," Nader said.
He announced Sunday that he will launch his fourth consecutive White House bid - fifth if his 1992 write-in campaign is included.
Many Democrats fear Nader could draw votes from whoever gets the party's nomination, potentially helping presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain win the White House in November. Nader has long rejected accusations that he served as a spoiler in 2000, in effect helping George W. Bush beat out Al Gore.
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/images/01/30/art.nader.gi.jpg caption="Nader said Sunday he will mount another presidential run."]WASHINGTON (CNN) - Ralph Nader announced Sunday he is entering the presidential race as an Independent.
In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," the consumer advocate said great changes in U.S. history have come "through little parties that never won any national election."
"Dissent is the mother of ascent," he said. "And in that context I've decided to run for president."
Nader, who turns 74 this week, complained of the "paralysis of the government," which he said is under the control of corporate executives and lobbyists.
It marks his fourth straight White House bid - fifth if his 1992 write-in campaign is included.
Nader's entry into the race did not come as a surprise to political watchers.
On Sunday, Sen. Barack Obama criticized him. "My sense is that Mr. Nader is somebody who, if you don't listen and adopt all of his policies, thinks you're not substantive," Obama told reporters when asked about Nader's possible candidacy.
- CNN's Josh Levs
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