An U.S. independent presidential candidate claimed on Sunday that he has created a world record of longest campaign speeches in a single day.
Ralph Nader, a longtime liberal consumer advocate, said that he has made speech marathon of more than 255 minutes in 21 Massachusetts communities on Saturday, long enough to overwrite the Guinness Book for World Records.
The 74-year-old candidate was told earlier by Guinness officials that he has to give at least 150 minutes of speeches with each lasting at least 10 minutes and having an audience of at least 10 people.
"When you're seeking justice, as I have for so many years, it’s invigorating, not fatiguing," he said of his adventure.
His spokesman told reporters that Nader's "Massachusetts Marathon" was aimed at raising awareness he is running for president as an independent.
Nader gained more than 90,000 votes in the decisive state of Florida in the 2000 presidential election and so was accused of helping George W. Bush beat Al Gore.
However, his name is only on the ballot of 45 states this year and his supporting rate is a single digit.
Nader earlier said that he was hoping his campaign could rally thousands of voters in supporting a powerful "third political force."
The third party candidates have been long trying to make a breakthrough in the presidential elections that seem to be only between two major parties, Republican and Democratic.
(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2008)
