Nader sees 'bigotry' in two major parties

SEATTLE, May 15 (UPI) -- Long shot independent presidential hopeful Ralph Nader says the two major parties unfairly dominate the U.S. political landscape.

In his fifth bid for the presidency since 1992, Nader is vying for attention in a primary season that Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have dominated recently, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported Thursday.

"There's a political bigotry here against small parties," Nader told the newspaper. "The two parties have spoiled our elections, our government, our country because they have allowed corporations to strip the American people of any control over their future."

Nader spoke to an audience of about 400 at the University of Washington Wednesday night. The size of the crowd paled in comparison to the 10,000 attendees he packed into the city's KeyArena eight years ago, the newspaper said.

Toby Nelson, the Washington state coordinator of Nader's presidential campaign, said he'd be pleased if Nader got at least 5 percent of the votes nationwide.

"We have to start somewhere," Nelson said. "In order to field winners, we need people to stand up and put themselves out in the public."