Nader not likely to tilt 2008 election

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 24 (UPI) -- Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader may be on the Pennsylvania ballot, but he is not expected to have an influence on the race there, observers say.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Wednesday that recent polls show the consumer advocate siphoning more votes from Republican nominee John McCain than from Democrat Barack Obama.

Pollster G. Terry Madonna of Franklin & Marshall College said Nader's presence on the Pennsylvania ballot might not significantly impact the race.

"My hunch is he will not be decisive," Madonna said. "His time has come and gone, and I doubt if he will play the role of spoiler this time."

Madonna said votes for Nader might be offset by those for Libertarian candidate Bob Barr, the former Republican congressman from Georgia.

Although Nader supporters likely will show up at the polls on Nov. 4, their relatively small numbers won't be enough to influence the outcome, said Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia.

"He's showing up in polls in the low single digits," Sabato said. "We're looking at a tiny percentage of the vote. Nader got 2.7 percent in 2000 and he got about 0.37 in 2004. I think you are looking at a total much closer to 2004 than 2000."