Consumer advocate Ralph Nader will announce tomorrow whether he will run as an independent candidate in this year's US presidential election, writes Conor O'Clery in New York.
Mr Nader, who will reveal his decision on NBC's Meet the Press programme, is said to be leaning towards campaigning as an independent.
"He's going to be discussing his role in the presidential election," said his spokeswoman, Ms Linda Schade. "He's felt there is a role for an independent candidate to play."
Mr Nader (69) got 2.7 per cent of the popular vote in 2000 and many Democrats blame him for allowing George W. Bush to win the White House through narrow victories over Al Gore in Florida and New Hampshire.
Mr Nader has said that one reason to run this year would be to "raise the civil liberties issue involving third parties and independent candidates generally".
Meanwhile, the US Secret Service has began protecting Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and will soon offer its services to Mr Kerry's main rival, John Edwards. Federal law allows candidates to seek protection if they reach a certain level of public prominence.
President Bush has raised at least $150 million since beginning his re-election effort last May, according to a campaign finance report filed yesterday with the Federal Election Commission. He raised $12.9 million last month.
In an e-mail appeal to supporters, the Bush/Cheney campaign stated: "In the closest presidential election in modern history, 24,731 people in a nation of 280 million made the difference for 59 electoral votes. Will you be one of the people who makes a difference this time?"
Mr Kerry's campaign said that it had raised at least $7 million so far this year and was hoping to raise an additional $2 million before the March 2nd "Super Tuesday" delegate contests in 10 states. Mr Edwards has raised at least $4.7 million.
Mr Kerry has a commanding lead over Mr Edwards among New Yorkers likely to vote in the March 2nd primary, according to a poll published yesterday.
The Massachusetts senator is leading Mr Edwards by 66 per cent to 14 per cent, with the Rev Al Sharpton at 7 per cent and Congressman Dennis Kucinich at 3 per cent.