Following the campaign, October 16
From Karin Caifa:
SHOWING US THE Q3 MONEY
Unlike some campaigns Wednesday, the Kucinich folks were not shy about releasing their official quarter three tallies. According to an afternoon release from communications director Jeff Cohen, the Kucinich campaign raised $1.67 million, up from $1.54 million in Quarter Two. The amount of cash on hand, however, is noticeably small — just $800,000. “While many presidential campaigns declined in fund-raising,” Cohen noted, “the insurgent Kucinich campaign today is filing its financial statement showing an increase.” Cohen also described the bid’s fund-raising as “grass-roots,” with the average contribution just $72. He noted that $1 million was raised in September alone. With more than half of the money raised in the final month of the quarter, perhaps the change in fund-raising personnel over the summer did have more of an effect than the campaign admitted. The third quarter brings the campaign’s total fund-raising to about $3.5 million over the eight months since the bid launched. Paling in comparison to Dean, Kerry and other leaders of the pack, Cohen retorted, “As a grass-roots campaign with a huge volunteer base, Kucinich for President doesn’t need to equal other campaigns dollar for dollar.” Cohen also said the majority of the funds were raised through the Internet and Kucinich will be eligible for federal matching funds.
KUCINICH TOUR HEADS FOR THE CAPITOL
The Kucinich campaign is dubbing the announcement tour “a big success.” “Large enthusiastic crowds have greeted the candidate — Minnesota Public Radio estimated last night’s Minneapolis crowd at 2,000!” said an e-mail sent to supporters Wednesday night. “Local news coverage has been decent, with perhaps millions of new people learning about our campaign. Along the way, Dennis was joined and supported by such well-known figures as Ani DiFranco, Studs Terkel, Mimi Kennedy and Dr. Patch Adams.” Whether the campaign can sustain the momentum generated by the last three days remains to be seen. Kucinich wraps up the announcement festivities Thursday night with an event in Washington; fellow Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee of California and John Conyers of Michigan are expected to be in attendance, along with Ben Cohen of “Ben and Jerry’s” fame.
CURBING THE PATRIOT ACT
Looks like Kucinich has more company in his legislative measures to curb the USA Patriot Act. The AP reports that a group of bipartisan senators are also seeking to roll back some of the law’s provisions. Republican Larry Craig of Idaho and Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois are the chief sponsors of the bill, which will most likely be offered as a rider to an appropriations bill. Kucinich’s bill, co-sponsored by Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, has 20 other sponsors in the House, but has not moved out of committee since being introduced on Sept. 24.
KUCINICH ON THE NEW U.N. RESOLUTION: NO
Kucinich released a statement Wednesday giving a “thumbs down” to the new resolution proposed by the White House to the U.N. Security Council regarding Iraq. “The new resolution that the United States is seeking approval from the United Nations Security Council today on Iraq is a step in the wrong direction and does not serve the interests of the American public. This resolution endorses the U.S. occupation of Iraq and sets no set time for the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The United States cannot possibly secure the peace in Iraq if we continue to occupy the country. Our continued presence will only escalate the hatred and violence by allowing Al Qaeda, and other fundamentalist militants, to use U.S. soldiers as targets. By supporting this resolution, France, Germany, Russia and China are enabling the United States to continue to cause great harm to the people of Iraq and the United States. It will only allow for a prolonged occupation that will cost billions of dollars to American taxpayers, further escalate anti-American sentiment, and will lead to increased deaths of American soldiers. What a new U.N. resolution should provide for is the deployment of a multinational force under U.N. mandate to keep the peace in Iraq while the interim Iraqi government receives U.N. support and a new Iraqi government is elected. The United States should then phase out U.S. troops as UN peacekeepers are installed.” Last week, Kucinich unveiled an exit strategy that proposes the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq by Jan. 1.
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