Democrats will wake up today to discover their worst nightmare is real - the Green Party's Ralph Nader has split the vote.
Without Mr Nader's 70,000-odd votes in the key state of Florida, Vice-President Al Gore would probably be waking up to a champagne breakfast as President-elect.
Instead, he had to face a nerve-wracking vote recount and a disputed election.
After long ignoring Mr Nader's bid, Democrats have watched - and protested - as the disenchanted liberal refused to give up, even though his efforts may give the Republicans victory.
The veteran consumer advocate, 66, remained defiant even though the party appeared to fail in its bid to get five per cent of the national popular vote - and the Federal matching funds it would have brought to compete in the next election in 2004.
Noting his work may have also made a significant impact in the races of Washington state, Oregon, Wisconsin and Colorado, Mr Nader refused to wear the 'spoiler' label pinned on him by bitter Democrats.
