"Ralph has had a role in inspiring or bringing into existence countless organizations," he said.
"[ACER] was a natural selection for a charity that an anti-democratic organization like the CPD should be forced to contribute to," Atkins said.
The research arm of ACER deals with electoral issues ranging from redistricting to selection of judges, Parker said. The group also organizes workshops and lectures. It has not yet undertaken a major research project.
Parker said ACER's budget last year was about $100,000.
As Nader threatened legal action yesterday against the CPD, a three-judge panel heard his supporters' appeal of their case against the FEC.
Nader contends that the corporate-financed CPD debates constitute illegal campaign contributions to Vice President Al Gore '69 and Texas Gov. George W. Bush. Gore and Bush are the only two candidates who are polling at least 15 percent in national polls, which is one of the CPD's criteria for entrance into the debates.
Scott Lewis, a Boston lawyer who argued the case yesterday for the Nader supporter-plaintiffs--who include Susan Sarandon and Phil Donahue--said he thought things went well.
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