PORTLAND, Ore. - Ralph Nader is the latest presidential candidate to swing through Oregon this week.

The independent candidate's numerous attempts to get on the ballot in 2004 failed. Nader blames the debacle on Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury.

During a press conference Tuesday, he said he faces the same challenge this time around and is in Portland to figure out what his options will be this election season.

In many ways, Nader wants the same things the Democratic candidates are calling for - an end to the Iraq war, more solar energy, and universal health care. He said the difference is that he is running independent of a two-party system he views as corrupt.

"The evidence is clear that they have become the toadies of big business and allowed them to take over our federal government and turned it against its own people," he said.

Nader spent Friday afternoon at Al-Amir Lebanese Restaurant in southwest Portland, where he dined with a couple dozen supporters.

"I think he can make the candidates who are running pay more attention to the issues instead of corporate America," said Sandi Kucera, Nader's running mate in 2004.

But many voters have not forgiven Nader for what they perceive as his role in helping George W. Bush win the 2000 election.

"Makes me nervous what his motivations are. What's going to be different this time?" asked Erin Malokas, a Democrat who voted for Al Gore.

When asked how he would respond to that bitterness, Nader said he is not the culprit.

"Last I remember, Bush took more votes from Gore than I did," Nader said. "Why not blame Bush? Because he's part of the two major parties, huh?"

Nader said calling him a spoiler is "political bigotry."

"We're all equally empowered to run for election. We all try to get votes from one another. Therefore, we're all spoilers for one another or none of us are spoilers," he said.

Long-time supporters like Ivan Kafoury told KATU News they appreciate Nader's willingness to run.

"I think he's much more honest and forthright than anyone else running," he said.

His son, Jeff Kafoury, said he takes a slightly different view.

"I do support him and his causes and his views on things," he said. "But I want to go for someone who has a chance to win. Hopefully, Ralph can bring out the issues that need to be brought out and force the Democratic candidates to talk about important issues that affect our society."

After several major runs at the White House, Nader said he is not tired of running - and losing.

"No, the way you win is you gotta endure losing again and again," he said. "Every social justice movement in our history started with people who are willing to lose and lose and lose but build and build until they or others prevailed."

Besides working to get on the Oregon ballot, Nader said he believes he should be included in the general election debates. His campaign cites a Diageo/Hotline poll used by the National Journal that gives Nader 5 percent of the vote. The same study shows Nader would take as many voters away from McCain as he would from the Democratic candidates.