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Ralph Nader and the None-of-the-Above Campaign

Two former Nader's Raiders, Carl Mayer and Matthew Rothschild, formed the Committee to Draft Ralph Nader for President in July 1991.[1]  Nader had resisted efforts to draw him into presidential campaigns in 1972 and 1980.  Mayer and Rothschid were unable to convince Nader to run for president, but he did agree to participate in a write-in effort in New Hampshire. 

As a "none of the above" candidate, Nader stumped in New Hampshire beginning in late November.  His appearances drew large crowds, sometimes numbering 400 or 500, and the write-in campaign had a visible presence in the state with an office in Manchester.  Supporters drove around with giant "Write In Ralph Nader" plywood pencils strapped to the tops of their cars.[2]  The Committee raised more than $70,000 in direct mail contributions.[3]

The Nader non-candidacy appeared designed to draw attention to a "new democracy tool box" of reforms including term limits for elected officials, full public funding of campaigns, repeal of federal pay increases and a "none of the above" option for elections.
 
Nader obtained more than 6,000 write-in votes in New Hampshire, drawing equal support from Democrats and Republicans.  His name was put on the Democratic primary ballot in Massachusetts, and he gained almost 33,000 votes (4.1%) in the March 10 contest.


Notes.
1. Micah L. Sifry.  "The 'None of the Above' Candidate."  The Nation, December 23, 1991.

2. Per Deutsch, "The pencils were the brainchild of Gene Stilp an organizer from PA who had been building props for political causes for years. There were dozens of them and one larger one that went on top of an RV that traveled throughout the state."

3. Laura A. Kiernan.  "Nader's battle for 'none of the above.'"  The Boston Globe, February 11, 1992.·

Carl Mayer and Matthew Rothschild formed the Committee to Draft Ralph Nader for President and served as co-treasurers.  Mayer was a law professor and Rothschild the publisher of the Progressive.  Ken Deutsch, who had worked at NYPIRG starting in 1985, was New Hampshire Coordinator.  Total staff was less than 10 people.


More Resources:
C-SPAN: Ralph Nader
The Essential Nader