PORTLAND – Consumer advocate and former Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader mixed politics with entertainment as he sought to sharpen young Mainers’ interest in grass-roots activism during the weekend.

Portland was the fifth stop of the year of Nader’s “People Have the Power Tour.” The rallies are sponsored by Democracy Rising, Nader’s newest political organization. Nearly 2,000 people attended the Portland rally.

The nonpartisan, nonprofit group promotes numerous causes, including publicly financed elections, labor, the environment, universal health care and reform of the criminal justice system.

At a news conference before Saturday’s Portland rally, Nader said a string of recent corporate scandals shows how important it is for citizens to engage in their civic responsibilities. The news about WorldCom, Arthur Andersen and Enron are examples of big businesses hurting the economy and real people, he said.

“We are in the midst of a corporate crime wave,” said Nader. State and federal agencies that are supposed to regulate corporations are “understaffed, underwilled and underpowered,” he added.

Nader said state and federal lawmakers are indebted to corporations for campaign contributions, so they don’t create new laws to help prevent corporate crime and don’t insist that existing laws be enforced.

Nader, who delivered the keynote address at the rally at the Cumberland County Civic Center, praised Maine as a national leader in issues raised by the political tour.

He noted that Maine is studying the feasibility of universal health care and has passed a law to control prescription drug prices. The U.S. Supreme Court will review the constitutionality of that drug law.

“You’re really – pardon the pun – the Maine act for the rest of the country,” Nader said.

Musicians Patti Smith and Jello Biafra also appeared.

Local speakers included Green Independent gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Carter, Rep. Michael Quint, D-Portland, and Barry Dana, chief of the Penobscot Nation.

Tickets for the Maine rally were $10 to $15, and organizers said proceeds and donations would help cover costs and enable the tour to visit more cities.

Nader’s associates hope the rallies will help heal the rift in the political left caused by his Green Party candidacy in the 2000 presidential election. Some activists see Nader as a spoiler who tipped the election to George W. Bush.

In Maine, Nader took 5.7 percent of the vote. Al Gore 49.1 percent and Bush 44 percent.