Democratic chief urges Nader to back Kerry
 |  Democrats are urging Ralph Nader to drop out of the presidential race. |
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe has called on Ralph Nader to give up his independent bid for president and support Sen. John Kerry -- a move quickly rejected by the Nader campaign.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday about the upcoming Democratic National Convention, McAuliffe said Nader should consider backing Kerry because otherwise his legacy could be that he gave "this country eight years of George Bush."
"I want Ralph Nader active in this campaign," McAuliffe said. "I want him active helping John Kerry."
The DNC chairman said the Democratic convention will address issues Nader, a longtime consumer advocate, has "fought his life for."
"I'm hoping that people who've traditionally supported Ralph Nader will understand that John Kerry has fought for these issues his entire life," McAuliffe said.
Nader spokesman Kevin Zeese said McAuliffe "should worry more about Kerry's lack of a plan for withdrawal from Iraq than about Nader withdrawing from the race."
Zeese then ran off a host of issues he said the Kerry campaign is not addressing, including Israeli policies toward Palestinians, corporate welfare and U.S. energy policy.
"There are so many problems and issues that are not being addressed that it becomes more obvious that Nader is needed more, not less," Zeese said.
According to the most recent Gallup Poll, Kerry leads Bush 50 percent to 45 percent among likely voters in a three-way race, with 2 percent backing Nader. But Nader siphons more support from Kerry than from Bush among minority voters in a three-way race.
Democrats have often blamed Nader's Green Party candidacy for costing Al Gore the presidency in 2000, and many have said they fear a repeat this year if Nader stays in the race.
"Any votes that are taken away from John Kerry clearly are a threat," McAuliffe said. "So we need all of us working together to make sure that we're unified behind John Kerry and John Edwards, to make sure that we are working, united, together."
