WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- Presumed Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts met with independent candidate Ralph Nader Wednesday to discuss their common goals.
The meeting in Washington, D.C., represents the beginning of an extended effort on the part of Democrats to pressure Nader to drop his presidential bid. Nader ran as the Green Party candidate in the 2000 presidential election, causing many Democrats to blame him for Vice President Al Gore's loss to George W. Bush.
The Reform Party endorsed Nader last week, giving him a spot on the crucial Florida ballot.
Nader has been highly critical of both Bush and Kerry on the war in Iraq and advocates the withdrawal of U.S. troops from that country.
But former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean, a popular anti-war candidate early in the primary season, has been campaigning for Kerry and has repeatedly warned Democrats that a vote for Nader is a vote for Bush.
Dean stumped with Kerry Monday in his first campaign appearance in Oregon one day before the state's Democratic primary.
After his meeting with Nader, Kerry visited on Capitol Hill with moderate Democrats, including Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana and Sens. Robert Byrd and Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia.
