Briana Nestler: Contrary to media accounts, Nader's doing well
Dear Editor:
A recent article on Nader's election progress in the Wisconsin State Journal failed to appreciate that for an independent to already be on 12 state ballots in early August is a huge accomplishment, given states' wide variety of regulations for when candidates can begin and when they must finish their signature gathering. In Wisconsin, for example, signatures for an independent's inclusion on the ballot may not be gathered before Aug. 1.
The State Journal is not the first to misleadingly print that Nader is "only" on 12 state ballots. Many reporters haven't done the research to understand that being on 12 already, with 26 more pending, and being on schedule to qualify for at least 45 states is incredible!
The Commission on Presidential Debates supports their misconception by insisting that qualifying for enough state ballots to win the electoral college still does not prove independent and third-party candidates worthy to debate McCain and Obama. Neither does polling at 5 percent, even though that grants candidates federal funds. The commission, apparently, doesn't think the American people should get what they pay for. Its claim that the commission's primary goal is to educate voters is a joke.
Briana
Nestler
Madison
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