Nader barred from attending debate

Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader arrived at the University of Massachusetts at Boston in Dorchester to attend yesterday’s debate, but was turned away by police when he tried to enter the hall, campaign officials said.

Nader was escorted off the debate premises by State Police and Commission on Presidential Debates employees when he attempted to enter Lipke Auditorium, said campaign spokeswoman Stacy Malkan. Nader even had a ticket, she claimed.

“We found it very strange that the police would be there to meet him along with a private company,” said Malkan, who claimed that officials knew of Nader’s plans to attend the debate an hour before his arrival.

Nader has not yet decided whether to take legal action against the Commission on Presidential Debates. “It’s still under consideration, but it is a definite possibility,” Malkan said.

The State Police declined to comment late last night. It was not immediately clear why Nader was escorted from the debate, Malkan said. She speculated that the mainstream candidates were afraid that Nader would divide the media spotlight.

“I don’t think they want attention on anyone but the two candidates participating in the debate,” Malkan said. Nader did not receive enough of the vote last year to participate in the debates and originally had no plans to attend as a spectator, campaign officials said. He acquired a ticket from Northeastern student Todd Tavares at a press conference at Harvard University yesterday.

Tavares, a Green Party and Boston Campus Action Network member, said he received a call from the Nader campaign asking him to give up his ticket for Nader. “Right now in American politics, I can’t think of anyone more deserving to be at that debate,” Tavares said. “When they called, I understood right away. It’s the next logical step. If the front door is locked, try the side.”

Tavares believed Nader attended the debate to bolster the Green Party campaign.

“He wanted to make his presence known. It was his chance to be seen,” Tavares said.

While Tavares was looking forward to attending the debate, he does not regret his decision to volunteer his ticket.

“I really don’t think I missed anything,” Tavares said. “It was a small price to pay.”