ON SUNDAY, Ralph Nader, the consumer advocate and former Green party presidential candidate, announced that he is an independent candidate for president in 2004. But will a Nader run this year make a difference? Top Democrats seem to think so. Over the last few weeks, Nader has been the subject of entreaties from Democratic party leaders not to run for president, most notably Terry McAuliffe, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee. “I’m urging everybody to talk to Ralph Nader” and tell him not to run, McAuliffe told CNN on Friday. Spokespeople for John Kerry, the Democratic frontrunner, also released a statement on Friday, saying that it was “important [Democrats and progressives] remain united in November.”

Here is why Democrats are worried: Whoever the Democratic nominee turns out to be–either Sens. John Kerry or John Edwards–their positions on a few major issues will be closer to President Bush’s than they would probably like to admit.