Following the campaign, October 1 (report two)
From Karin Caifa:
NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS
While Tuesday’s announcement that the AFL-CIO would not meet to endorse a presidential candidate in October was a bummer for usual labor darling Dick Gephardt, it was a ray of sunshine for the Kucinich camp. It’s a case of no news is good news for them. “Our candidate has the highest lifetime labor rating according to the AFL-CIO,” campaign press secretary David Swanson said. “We hope that when they do eventually make an endorsement, they’ll back Dennis Kucinich.” Kucinich’s fiery stump speech and labor-friendly voting record have perked the ears of many labor voters, particularly in the early primary state of Iowa. He’s established a rank-and-file labor committee in that state. The South Central Iowa labor crowd gathered around the congressman following the Labor Day parade and a rousing appearance at the Service Employees International Union conference in Washington in September had the candidate being swarmed like a rock star. But, like most of the general voting public, they worry about the Ohio congressman’s electability. The endorsement delay gives Kucinich more time to state his case.
WHITE HOUSE LEAK PROBE
Speaking for the campaign, press secretary David Swanson had this to say about the DOJ investigation into whether the White House illegally disclosed the identity of Joseph Wilson’s wife, a CIA operative: “The administration’s apparent retaliation against a truth teller will not intimidate the American people and should not intimidate Congress, which must demand a full and truly independent investigation.”
DUBIOUS DISTINCTION
“Recall” is a word on everyone’s lips but Kucinich is the only member of the Democratic presidential field who’s survived one himself. As mayor of Cleveland in 1978, he won a recall election by a scant 236-vote margin. He consequently lost his bid for re-relection to now-Sen. George Voinovich in 1979. See, Gray Davis, people do make comebacks from these things.
ON THE TRAIL
Thursday: In Washington, D.C.
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