Ralph Nader, making at least his fourth consecutive run at the White House, has become the unlikely subject of a Democratic congressional primary in Iowa. Incumbent Leonard Boswell has sought to focus attention on his more-liberal opponent’s support for Nader in 2000. Many Democrats, including Boswell, blame Nader for Al Gore’s loss and the election of George W. Bush.

The AP’s Mike Glover reports:

Iowa congressman hopes Nader is on voters’ minds

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — It’s been eight years, but many Democrats still bristle at the thought of Ralph Nader’s 2000 run for the presidency. And they’re not especially forgiving toward anyone who helped him, either.

At least, that seems to be driving six-term Iowa congressman Leonard Boswell’s re-election bid against a more liberal primary challenger.

Much of the Democrat’s well-funded campaign has focused on challenger Ed Fallon’s support for Nader, who received a sliver of the national vote eight years ago but is blamed by many in the party for siphoning off just enough from Al Gore to hand the victory to George W. Bush.

“A lot of the things we’re dealing with now — whether it’s the war or the economy — quite possibly wouldn’t have happened” had Gore won that election, Boswell said.

Fallon concedes his endorsement “was probably my worst political decision” but said he’s repeatedly apologized for backing Nader. And he notes that Gore narrowly won Iowa.

Boswell’s re-election bid has gotten the most attention among races on the Iowa ballot on Tuesday, when seven states are holding primaries. Because Iowa dealt with the presidential race in its first-in-the-nation Jan. 3 caucuses, voters are now focusing on a handful of congressional contests, including a three-way GOP race that will produce an opponent for Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin in the fall.

Three Republicans are running to oppose first-term Democrat Dave Loebsack in his eastern Iowa district, and four Democrats are seeking the nomination to oppose Republican Rep. Tom Latham in his northern Iowa district.

But the most intense race has been between Boswell and Fallon in the 3rd District, which includes the Des Moines area.

Fallon has argued that Boswell is too conservative to represent the left-leaning district, claiming he frequently votes with President Bush and relies too heavily on special interest campaign money.

“If we’re really going to get any change in the country, it’s going to take politicians who are independent of big money,” Fallon said.

Besides noting Fallon’s support of Nader, Boswell has alleged that his opponent considered an independent run for governor in 2006 after losing to Democrat Chet Culver in the primary. Fallon has denied the charge, noting he campaigned for Culver, who cruised to a victory over Republican Jim Nussle.

The Democratic establishment has rallied to Boswell’s side, with top Democrats including Gore and Harkin offering their endorsements. Boswell has a big lead in the money race, raising more than $1.1 million, compared with about $240,000 by Fallon.

Dennis Goldford, a Drake University political science professor, said that while Boswell may be more conservative than most Democrats in the district, he has no obvious weaknesses.

“I think Fallon’s the distinctly more liberal candidate, but it’s always tough to run an insurgent campaign unless there’s a scandal or rank incompetence on the part of the incumbent,” Goldford said.

In the Senate race to take on Harkin, former state legislator George Eichhorn is running against businessmen Steve Rathje and Christopher Reed for the GOP nomination.

More than three dozen current and former Republican legislators have backed Eichhorn.

Harkin, who is unopposed in the primary, will enter the November election with incumbency and cash to his advantage. He has raised nearly $4.9 million.

The latest Federal Election Commission reports show Rathje has raised a little more than $85,000. The reports list no fundraising activity for Reed or Eichhorn.

The primary will mark the first held under a new state law allowing voters to register on election day or change their party allegiance.