McAuliffe Denies DNC Offered Money to Nader

Spokesman slams Nader's claim he was bribed to avoid key states in '04

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted May 30, 2009 10:03 AM CDT

(Newser) – Ralph Nader's claim that then-DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe offered him cash to stay out of key state races in 2004 is far from the truth, McAuliffe campaign strategist Mo Elleithee tells the Blue Virginia blog. McAuliffe did speak to Nader—who Elleithee claims was being funded by the GOP—to try to convince him not to run, or at least not to compete in battleground states, the strategist acknowledges. But all Nader was offered, he says, was a chance to push his issues via the DNC surrogate operation.

"He made the case that if Nader truly cared about these issues, he was putting it all at risk by again potentially handing the election to Bush," said Elleithee, who is now running McAuliffe's campaign for Virginia governor. "He never offered him any money." Nader, Elleithee says, "has a history of frivolous attacks and accusations" and is now just hungry for headlines.

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Ralph Nader, seen here at a 2007 news conference, has described former DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe as "slipperier than an eel in olive oil." (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

Ralph Nader makes an appearance at Barnes and Noble to sign copies of his new book 'The Good Fight' in New York City in 2004, during his run for president. (Getty Images)

Terry McAuliffe, speaks at an event in Charleston, W.Va. The former Democratic National Committee chairman Terry McAuliffe is running for governor of Virginia. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)

Then- Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe speaks at a fundraiser at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC in this June 2003 photo. (Getty Images)

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Nader has a history of frivolous attacks and accusations—he even filed lawsuits after the 2004 election against the DNC, the Kerry campaign and Terry personally. All three were thrown out. - Mo Elliethee

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McAuliffe Denies DNC Offered Money to Nader