If Bush is confirmed as victor in the electoral college, it will be because of his campaign. If Gore somehow squeaks out a win, it will be in spite of his. The Vice-President squandered the advantages that America's longest economic boom, peace abroad and a content public should have brought to the incumbent. Britain, France, Germany and Italy face elections within 22 months. The contending parties will study the Nader phenomenon in particular.
Green parties are already in coalition governments in Germany and France.
They are likely to be courted with new ardor by their leftist colleagues when the damage done by Nader to the Democrats is assessed. Nader capitalised on unease with the harsher aspects of globalisation, which Clinton's New Democrats have treated as a uniformly friendly force. Others chose television, Florida officials or the electoral college as the villain of the piece. Now that is snippy. The Age Company Ltd 2000.