President Bush authorized a reduction of 500,000, President Clinton an additional 250,000, leaving a force of 1,450,000. Our answer to that question is an emphatic no. Green Party nominee Ralph Nader has submitted enough signatures to appear on 34 state ballots and hopes to be on the ballot in as many as 45 states this fall, campaign manager Theresa Amato said yesterday. In addition, the campaign has filed lawsuits challenging tough ballot access laws in North Carolina, Illinois, South Dakota and Oklahoma. While many candidates begin their advertising efforts with gauzy bio spots, Nader media consultant Bill Hillsman said the campaign chose to skip such an ad in order to capitalize on voter anger over two-party domination of the debates .
People get viscerally angry when they find out what's going on with the debates.
But halfway through, the sendup ends and the self-parody begins. It's Ralph in an office stuffed with file boxes and manila file folders to the point of mania. The shot pokes gentle fun at Nader's ascetic zealotry. As with Ventura and Wellstone, Hillsman casts Nader as a nonconformist who can laugh at himself. By making mild fun of his own wonkery, Nader neutralizes his own stereotype as a nerdy fanatic and turns it into a political asset.