Nader, speaking at a rally at Boston University, derided his opponents: Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush.

Bush, he said, "has three assets: He's not very knowledgeable, he's lazy and he doesn't like controversy." He called Gore "the great pretender and great protester. He bullies the weak and is a coward to the strong."

About 2,500 people, mostly college students, showed up at the rally with a singular message: A political system dominated by two parties should become a thing of the past, regardless of Nader's ultimate showing in this year's three-way contest.

Nader hovered below 5 percent in national polls Monday. If he garners at least 5 percent in Tuesday's election, the Green Party will be ensured federal campaign money for the 2004 election.

"We will keep the feet (of the other parties) to the fire in Washington with the only message they understand: loss of votes," Nader said.

In his speech, Nader also delved into state politics, endorsing a Massachusetts ballot question that seeks to bring about universal health care in the state.

"People have had enough denial of health care coverage," he said.

Nader also supported a laundry-list of typically liberal proposals: campaign finance reform that would forbid corporate contributions, abolition of all commercial logging in the forests, and a transfer of military spending to programs related to public housing, health care, and education.

Students applauded Nader as the only candidate who speaks to them.

"Nader talks about everything young liberal students stand for. Nader speaks to us more than anyone has since the 1960s," said Jesse Alderman, a 19-year-old sophomore at Tufts University. "He has zero chance of winning but this is our chance to start the seedling for a new party, which will push the Democratic Party back to the left instead of creeping further to the right."

Alderman, of Philadelphia, is a registered Democrat and the campus coordinator for Nader's campaign. He said he believes Gore has been tailoring a more conservative message and is ignoring the party's liberal base.

"To get our vote, Gore will have to drop the conservative views," he said. "And he will have to talk to me as a progressive, liberal student."

The feisty crowd waited several hours for Nader's arrival, waving handmade signs reading "Imagine voting for someone you trust!" and wearing T-shirts reading "Bush and Gore make me wanna Ralph."

Although the national polls put Nader at below 5 percent, support for him is higher in some states where the race between Gore and Bush is close, including California, Minnesota, Michigan, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin.

Nader predicted his best showing Tuesday would come in those states, as well as in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.

Nader's role as a potential spoiler for Gore has put the longtime consumer activist under increasing pressure from Democrats who want him to drop out.

But Nader dismissed that as "foolish talk."

"When the voter votes for a candidate, the voter votes for a candidate, period," he said. "I think it's very arrogant for Al Gore and his surrogates to run around the country disrespecting voters who want to vote for a viable third party."

He pledged to continue building up the Green Party after Election Day. He encouraged supporters to volunteer, and to encourage others to join as well.

"Whether he gets 5 percent or not, it won't affect the Green Party," said Jonathan Levitt, a member of the Massachusetts Green Party. "This campaign has already taken us to the next level."