Kucinich Fires Up Democrats
Originally published in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
Kucinich fires up Democrats
By JIM SIEGEL
Eagle-Gazette Columbus Bureau
COLUMBUS -- He's way behind in fund raising, name recognition and political buzz, but U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Cleveland, has been buoyed by some recent enthusiastic crowds that have turned out to hear him speak across the country.
To fire up the Democratic base, he's talking about protecting America's steel and auto industries, eliminating the North American Free Trade Agreement, establishing universal health care and doing away with President Bush's tax cuts, which he argues favors the rich.
But thus far, Kucinich, 56, has been largely ignored by the national media who don't see him as a serious challenger in a crowded Democratic field that includes Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt, and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
The liberal four-term congressman wasn't even included in a recent New York Times drawing of Democratic candidates.
But his grassroots efforts and crowd-drawing abilities in places like Iowa, Wisconsin and California have some outside the Washington beltway taking notice.
"I am the one candidate who can inspire people to come out and vote," he said during a visit to Ohio Democratic Party headquarters Monday. "That is why I'm going to win the Ohio primary."
But before he gets to the Buckeye State, Kucinich has to put up good fights in the 11 states that hold primaries before Ohio on March 2.
He said Monday that he has raised more than $1 million at a pace that has picked up significantly in recent weeks. He recently grabbed endorsements from Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, and country singer Willie Nelson, who also has promised to perform concerts on behalf of Kucinich.
Kucinich's anti-war speeches also have made him popular with some Democrats, As an adamant opponent of the war with Iraq, he has accused the Bush administration of lying about the existence of weapons of mass destruction.
"This was a PR effort to change the American political dialogue," Kucinich said, noting it diverted attention in 2002 from the slumping economy, Enron scandal and growing number of uninsured Americans.
"I'm the only one challenging them on the lies," he said. "I'm not going to let (Bush) get away from that point."
Kucinich said he plans to file for congressional re-election while at the same time running a presidential campaign. His long-shot hopes are not confined only to his bid for the Oval Office.
"This campaign will be the basis for a Democrat comeback in Ohio," he said.
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