Ralph Nader must deliver 14,694 signatures by 5 PM Wednesday, 6/9, to get on the November ballot. There is a last minute push on to get those signatures and there are accusations regarding the paid petition gatherers.
The chairman of the AZ Dem party, Jim Pederson, says that Republicans, specifically former state GOP party chair Nathan Sproul, are paying for some of these petitions. Sproul denies it. Two petition gatherers said they are not geting paid by Sproul but would not say who is paying them.
One of Nader's coordinators, Michael Spreadbury, says he does not believe Sproul is bringing in signatures but he would not turn down Republican help. He also says the Nader campaign in AZ will take votes away from Bush and actually help Kerry.
Most of this info was reported in the East Valley Tribune Tuessday.