Maine voters might not see independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader’s name on the November ballot if a pair of challenges spearheaded by Maine Democrats on Monday proves successful.

“[T]here are serious questions regarding the methods Ralph Nader has used to get on ballots across the country,” Dottie Melanson, Maine Democratic Party chairwoman, said upon filing her challenge with the Maine Secretary of State’s Office just before the Monday afternoon deadline. “In Maine, we should be sure that any presidential candidate follows the rule of law.”

Melanson cited forgeries on Nader petitions in Pennsylvania and Oregon and major financial contributions from Republicans to the Nader campaign as reasons to question the integrity of the Maine petitions filed last week.

Nader supporters say the challenges are part of a concerted effort to keep their candidate off the ballot in swing states, as many Democrats see the consumer advocate as a potential spoiler in what is expected to be a close presidential election between President Bush and Sen. John Kerry.

“They should call themselves the anti-Democratic Party,” Nader spokesman Kevin Zeese said Monday.

Many Democrats blame Nader for Al Gore’s 2000 loss to Bush, particularly in Florida, where Nader, as the Green Party candidate, received more than 97,000 votes, well over the 537 votes by which Gore lost.

While Nader won 2.7 percent of the nationwide vote, 6 percent of Mainers chose him in 2000, something of which to be mindful, Melanson said.

“It can affect things,” she said.

Melanson’s challenge and that submitted by the political action committee Stopnader.com have several common allegations.

The complaints cite duplicate signatures and bogus signatures. They also claim that Nader running mate Peter Camejo did not disenroll from the Green Party, to which he belonged, as required by a law applying to nonparty candidates.

The complaints also contend that petition circulators misled signers by concealing Nader’s name on the petitions.

Michael Saxl, a former Democratic House speaker working with Stopnader.com, questioned the sincerity of those behind the effort to secure Nader’s appearance on the Maine ballot.

“If we had thought the Nader folks were behind this, it wouldn’t be an issue,” said Saxl, who accused Republicans of a “cynical perversion of the intention of the law” by aiding Nader in hopes of siphoning votes from Kerry.

Both Saxl and Melanson cite the appearance of Lewiston Republican Stavros Mendros’ name on the petitions, both as a signer and a notary, as evidence of Republican involvement.

There is no law prohibiting a member of any party from assisting with a petition drive.

Republican officials deny any role in the Nader effort, and Mendros on Monday scoffed at the idea he was part of a “right wing conspiracy.”

“I believe elections are about participation,” he said. “If they do the work and gather the signatures, I’m not going to withhold my notary.”

As it stands, Nader supporters submitted 4,128 signatures, 128 more than necessary to earn a spot on the Maine ballot. Nader and Camejo would appear on the ballot as Better Life Party candidates.

Saxl’s group, which he said has no institutional ties to the Democratic Party, is challenging 550 signatures.

The Secretary of State’s Office has seven days to schedule a hearing on the challenges. After the hearing, the secretary of state must issue a ruling within five days. Any ruling can be appealed to Superior Court.

If Nader loses his place on the Maine ballot, voters still will have a number of third-party candidates from which to choose, including Green Independent Party candidate David Cobb and Libertarian Michael Badnarik.