Nader isn't fighting a tide, he is leading a progressive social change movement.

Has been for 40 years.

There's yer trouble, if you think of Nader in conventional political terms. He isn't a career politician, he is a citizen activist. HUGE difference.

Also, Nader isn't 'coming into this so late'. Third party and indie presidential candidates don't even get going until now, because they don't compete in the two party primary system. The don't have the money to run perpetual campaigns, the way the corporate parties do.

If Obama wasn't a status quo candidate, he wouldn't be pulling in 50 million US dollars a month, bro. Follow the money. He is the LEADING FUNDRAISER OF CORPORATE DONATIONS.

You say the military industrial complex ain't behind Obama, I say you are blind.

Ralph's decision to run was predicated by the Democratic party field and the independent, third party field. We now know the Dem nom is either Obama or Clinton, and that no third party/indie candidate has announced a run. He is rushing in to fill the political vacuum left by Kucinich and Edwards dropping out of the race.

Kucinich didn't drop out for the reason stated above. Kucinich dropped out because he knew he wouldn't win AND he is in danger of losing his seat in US House of Representatives because of a renegade run by a Democratic party opponent in his district.