Published October 18 - 24, 2000 villagevoice.com exclusive
Georgia Reform Party Cans Buchanan, Backs Nader by James Ridgeway
October 20—The Reform Party in Georgia has bolted the Pat Buchanan camp and gone over to Green candidate Ralph Nader.
Said Georgia Reform vice-chair Jerry Reed: "I've always admired Nader personally....He's always been a top-drawer, honest person. I would have
liked to see him run in the Reform Party."
Buchanan press secretary K.B. Forbes told the Macon Telegraph "the lack of support" from Reed's organization, which is not recognized by the national party, is "irrelevant and inconsequential."
The Georgia defection follows Wednesday's press conference in Texas where three former Reform Party top officials—Paul Truax, who founded the Reform Party with Ross Perot in 1992; Leep Pepper, former state chair; and former Tarrant County chair Sandy Madison—went over to Nader. The trio claim Nader's goals are closer to those of the original Reform Party than are Buchanan's.