WASHINGTON (AFP) — Supporters of independent White House hopeful Ralph Nader plan to demonstrate at the Republican and Democratic conventions to push for him to be included in the presidential debates.
"This rally will be part of a massive outpouring of protest in Denver and Minneapolis against the two corporate controlled parties and their policies of perpetual militarism and war," the campaign said in a press release on its website.
As many as 7,000 people are expected to attend the Denver rally set to be held on August 27, the campaign said.
It will coincide with the penultimate day of the Democratic Party convention to nominate Barack Obama as its presidential candidate.
A second rally will be held to coincide with the Republican convention at St Paul-Minneapolis on September 4. Senator John McCain is to be nominated by the party to be its standard-bearer in the November elections.
The first scheduled televised debate between Obama and McCain is due to be held on September 26 in Oxford, Mississippi.
Nader, 74, has consistently challenged the two parties' dominance of the US political scene and is making his fifth bid for the White House, after standing for the Green Party in 1996 and 2000 and as an independent in 1992 and 2004.
Some democrats blame him for drawing votes away from Democrat Al Gore in the 2000 election, which was won by current President George W. Bush.
Nader's campaign said the consumer rights champaion is currently on the ballot in 30 of the 50 US states but hopes to be on 45 by mid-September.
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