for the Caucus members' constituents. Nader accused Congressman Mel Watt of twice uttering an "obscene racial epithet" towards him. Nader wrote the caucus chairman, Elijah Cummings, demanding an apology, but none was given. Criticism A number of liberal political figures, including some who had supported Nader's 2000 campaign, asked him not to run in 2004. A Democrat started a website called RalphDontRun.net to ask Nader not to run, and then to ask Nader's supporters to instead support Democratic nominee John Kerry. Former president Jimmy Carter was also critical of Nader's 2004 candidacy; at a March 2004 Democratic fundraiser, Carter said "Ralph, go back to umpiring softball games or examining the rear end of automobiles, and don't risk costing the Democrats the White House this year as you did four years ago". An April 2004 article in the Village Voice, which had endorsed Nader in 2000, also criticized Nader for his campaign, and for his past decisions to spend time campaigning in swing states instead of "safe states". Nader countered these criticisms by arguing that they were evidence that his detractors couldn’t fault him on policy-related grounds, and pointed to the estimated 45 million Americans who at the time lacked health insurance. Results Nader received 465,642 votes, for 0.38% of the total vote while finishing 3rd place once again, though with far fewer votes compared to four years prior. Endorsements Reform Party USA Independent Party of Delaware Independence Party of New York References External links Ralph Nader interview October 4, 2004 Electoral map 2004 United States presidential campaigns Nader Ralph Nader