Ralph Nader

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Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader is the only candidate for president who doesn't own a car.

That seems fitting for this Green Party candidate who made a name for himself 35 years ago by attacking the auto industry in a book called "Unsafe at Any Speed."

As a result of the book, Nader became a target of a private investigation by General Motors, and he testified before Congress about the auto industry.

Nader is largely credited for the existence of seatbelts in cars. Since the mid 1960s, Nader has led an advocacy group that has pushed for a variety of consumer protection legislation, including requiring warning labels on cigarettes, higher sanitation standards in meat-packing and poultry plants and lower radiation emissions from X-rays and television sets.

Mirroring his personal life, Nader's campaign is being waged on a shoestring. The monastic Nader, who is single, spends only $25,000 of his estimated $4 million net worth on annual living expenses. When traveling, he flies coach with senior citizen discount coupons and stays in supporters' homes.

His attacks on the Democratic and Republican parties for selling out to big corporations have attracted some high-profile supporters. They include Pearl Jam lead singer Eddie Vedder, the Indigo Girls, singer Willie Nelson, actress Susan Sarandon and filmmaker Michael Moore.

Nader is a graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School. He's never held political office. Nader and Green Party running mate, economist Winona LaDuke, also ran as a team for the nation's top two elected jobs in 1996.