Nader is running again

Nader is running again

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Consumer advocate Ralph Nader announced Sunday he’s running for president, a move that isn’t likely to put him in the White House but which could shave votes from the Democratic nominee in the November election.

Nader who ran as the Green Party candidate for president in 2000 — announced his White House intentions on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Nader, 73, said he is running because mainstream candidates are too closely tied to corporate America. Nader has also appeared on ballots as a third-party presidential candidate in 1996, 2000 and 2004 — each time taking only a fraction of the total vote. In 1996 and 2004 he won around one percent of the popular vote. In 2000, he garnered 2.7 percent — which some blame for Al Gore’s loss.

McCain probe to be sought

WASHINGTON — The national Democratic party wants campaign finance regulators to investigate whether Sen. John McCain would violate money-in-politics laws by withdrawing from the primary election’s public finance system.

McCain, who had been entitled to $5.8 million in federal funds for the primary, has decided to bypass the system so he can avoid spending limits between now and the GOP’s national convention in September.

Federal Election Commission Chairman David Mason notified McCain last week that he must first answer questions about a campaign loan.

The DNC said it plans to formally seek an FEC investigation today.

Huckabee misses the cue

NEW YORK — Even though Mike Huckabee is still battling for the Republican presidential nomination despite long odds, he said Saturday he won’t “overstay his welcome.”

Then he did precisely that, lingering on the “Weekend Update” set of “Saturday Night Live” despite repeated cues to leave the stage.

The former Arkansas governor appeared in a “Weekend Update” segment in which he described his confusion over whether it is mathematically impossible for him to win the nomination over front-runner John McCain. After anchorman Seth Meyers explained the numbers, Huckabee responded: “I’m not a math guy, I’m more of a miracle guy. ... Mike Huckabee does not overstay his welcome.” Then he remained seated at the “Update” desk even though Meyers made it clear it was time for him to leave.

McCain adds delegates

TOA BAJA, Puerto Rico — Republican Party members in Puerto Rico awarded all 20 delegates at stake Sunday to Arizona Sen. John McCain, who has vowed to help resolve Washington’s complicated relationship with the U.S. Caribbean territory. The delegates will be joined by three local members of the Republican National Committee who also have pledged to back McCain as party delegates.

McCain swept all 38 GOP delegates awarded in U.S. territories over the weekend, moving him closer to Republican nomination for president. He also picked up endorsements from two unpledged delegates, giving him a total of 998.

On Saturday, McCain picked up all nine delegates awarded by the GOP in American Samoa, as well as the nine GOP delegates from the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Combined dispatches