diamond geezer
Aug 12, 2004, 11:53 PM
Hopkinton computer tycoon Richard Egan, the Bush campaign's finance chairman in John Kerry's home state, has personally contributed the maximum amount allowed by law -- $2,000 -- to Nader's presidential campaign.
Egan's son John and daughter in law have each also "maxed out," bringing the family's total to $6,000.
Bush backers are hoping Nader will siphon enough votes from Kerry to tip the election to President Bush.
The co-founder of data storage giant EMC Corp. and Bush's former ambassador to Ireland, Egan is legendary in Republican circles for his ability to collect hundreds of thousands in campaign dollars.
He's a member of an elite group of Bush fund-raisers known as "Rangers" -- those who have helped raised more than $200,000 for the campaign. Egan's two sons are also Rangers.
Egan, who is retired from EMC and stepped down last year as ambassador, has an unlisted phone number. A message left for John Egan was not immediately returned on Thursday.
While Nader has criticized both Kerry and Bush, it is Democrats who fear him most. Many blame him for luring away enough disgruntled Democrats in 2000 to cost Al Gore the presidency.
During a debate last month with former Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean, Nader said he didn't know Egan, but defended his right to accept money from Republicans.
"He's an American citizen who is a Republican, just happens to believe in civil liberties maybe," Nader said during the debate on National Public Radio. "I don't even know the man."
Nader's prospects for getting on the ballot in Massachusetts are unclear. He needs to submit certified signatures from 10,000 registered voters by Aug. 31. Democratic Secretary of State William Galvin has said Nader may not pass that threshold.
Gary Hoffman, a spokesman for the Nader campaign in Massachusetts, said the campaign is reviewing the signature petitions.*
link (http://www.boston.com/news/politics/money/articles/2004/08/12/top_massachusetts_bush_donor_contributed_to_nader/)
When your horse is a nag, your best bet is to try and hobble the competition.
Egan's son John and daughter in law have each also "maxed out," bringing the family's total to $6,000.
Bush backers are hoping Nader will siphon enough votes from Kerry to tip the election to President Bush.
The co-founder of data storage giant EMC Corp. and Bush's former ambassador to Ireland, Egan is legendary in Republican circles for his ability to collect hundreds of thousands in campaign dollars.
He's a member of an elite group of Bush fund-raisers known as "Rangers" -- those who have helped raised more than $200,000 for the campaign. Egan's two sons are also Rangers.
Egan, who is retired from EMC and stepped down last year as ambassador, has an unlisted phone number. A message left for John Egan was not immediately returned on Thursday.
While Nader has criticized both Kerry and Bush, it is Democrats who fear him most. Many blame him for luring away enough disgruntled Democrats in 2000 to cost Al Gore the presidency.
During a debate last month with former Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean, Nader said he didn't know Egan, but defended his right to accept money from Republicans.
"He's an American citizen who is a Republican, just happens to believe in civil liberties maybe," Nader said during the debate on National Public Radio. "I don't even know the man."
Nader's prospects for getting on the ballot in Massachusetts are unclear. He needs to submit certified signatures from 10,000 registered voters by Aug. 31. Democratic Secretary of State William Galvin has said Nader may not pass that threshold.
Gary Hoffman, a spokesman for the Nader campaign in Massachusetts, said the campaign is reviewing the signature petitions.*
link (http://www.boston.com/news/politics/money/articles/2004/08/12/top_massachusetts_bush_donor_contributed_to_nader/)
When your horse is a nag, your best bet is to try and hobble the competition.
