An extensive conversation with independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader about why he has chosen to stay in the presidential race and about the allegations that he is taking support from GOP operatives. [includes rush transcript]

As John Kerry and George W Bush prepare for their next so-called debate this week at Washington University in St. Louis, there is still much discussion over last week’s back and forth at the University of Miami.

Virtually all major polls say that John Kerry benefited most from the nationally televised face-off. A Newsweek poll released over the weekend shows Bush’s 49-43 percent lead has been erased with Kerry now leading 47-45. More than 63 million Americans watched the Miami discussion. Some 61 percent of those polled by Newsweek said Kerry won, while only 19 said Bush came out ahead. And while Bush and Kerry continue to consolidate their campaign stops to key battleground-or swing states-they are not alone.

Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader said last week that he will continue his campaigning in many of the key states being canvassed by Bush and Kerry. This week, he is traveling around the swing states of Maine and New Hampshire. Since he announced his bid for the White House, Nader has been attacked by the Democrats as a spoiler whose candidacy will aid Bush in his reelection effort. Nader has spent most of his campaigns time and resources fighting legal battles to get on the ballot. As it stands, Nader is on the ballot in 33 states with legal battles in 3 more.

Nader recently held a press conference in Washington at the National Press Club in which he accused the Democratic Party of orchestrating a campaign of dirty tricks against him. This past weekend, I had a chance to sit down with Ralph Nader in Washington DC for an extensive conversation about why he has chosen to stay in the race and about the allegations that he is taking support from GOP operatives.

• Ralph Nader, independent presidential candidate.

READ TRANSCRIPT HERE