Virginia has become the sixth state to deny U.S. independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader a spot on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Officials in Richmond said Nader had failed to submit enough valid signatures to be listed. However, he is awaiting certifications of signatures in 14 other states and is involved in court battles to appear on the ballot in eight others.
Because Nader draws more votes away from Democratic candidates than Republicans, his progress is being followed closely by the Democrats. They claim Nader did well enough in several states in 2000 running for the Green Party to secure the election for President George Bush over Al Gore.
"Our concern has always been that Republicans' helping Ralph Nader, providing him organization and financial support, is a means to an end," a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee, Jano Cabrera, told the New York Times. "This is going to be a very close election, and we would hope voters realize that Republicans are not helping him because they agree with him."
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