This year, Ralph Nader faces one of the stiffest challenges of his career -and the visible possibility of a setback -since the failed attempt to get the Congress to establish a Consumer Protection Agency. The setback could stem from an issue known as the 'tort reform', which seeks to restrict punitive damages awarded by juries for wrongs in civil I}ability cases, like those which hold that consumer products have dangerous defects. In some cases, the awards could total no more than us $250,000. Even if President Clinton vetoes the tort measure, as he may possibly do, the Republican majority could override his veto, as it did with a recently enacted law to limit stockholders' rights to file fraud suits.

The tort reform, believes Nader , could be a serious blow to the us consumer, because big awards have introduced the element of safety into many products: chain saws are now equipped with safety guards, cars now have rear-seat safety belts, farm tractors have antirollover bars and children's sleeping wear is treated with flame retardants.

"Nader is at something of a crossroads," says Philip Duncan, editor of the Congressional Quarterly book, Politics in America, "To the degree that damage awards are limited, Nader loses a big weapon in his war against business interests."

However, Nader is undaunted by such possible flops. "In the citizens movement, you've got to be in a mode where you're never defeated," he says. This attitude should stand him in good stead as he gets ready to take on the rough and tumble of US politics.