Nader to derail Democrats again?

Christopher Caldwell thinks that against the odds, Ralph Nader is strongly influencing what John Kerry can and cannot say, and will again inadvertently come to the assistance of George W Bush:

Mr Nader's support would have dissipated after 2000 had politics continued on its ordinary way. His gripes primarily concerned the sameness of the parties' economic platforms, which is less of an issue this year. But history has provided Mr Nader with another cause. He is the only pacifist candidate in this race. Solid majorities still support the war in Iraq, but many of those who oppose it do so in an uncompromising way. Mr Kerry cannot take these voters for granted. A straightforward position against the Iraq war would lose him the election. But a straightforward position in its favour would drive voters to Mr Nader. And Mr Kerry cannot afford to cede Mr Nader even 1 or 2 per cent of the vote in any key states.