Kucinich campaigns in Hanover
Originally published in the Boston Globe
Kucinich campaigns in Hanover
11/29/2003
HANOVER, N.H. -- Quoting the poet Wordsworth and leaping on stage to act out a scene from Alice in Wonderland, Democrat Dennis Kucinich on Saturday tried to persuade voters his candidacy is not a long shot.
Despite remaining in the single digits in the polls, the Ohio congressman remained undaunted.
"You have the potential to transform the debate," he said at an appearance at Kendal at Hanover, a wealthy and politically active retirement community.
In an interview with the Valley News after the speech, Kucinich declined to say what kind of showing he believes he needs in New Hampshire.
Whether Kucinich could beat President Bush if he were to win the Democratic nomination came up during a question-and-answer session. One man asked for assurances that Kucinich's campaign is different from Ralph Nader's presidential campaign of 2000. Nader, who ran as the Green Party candidate, is blamed by some for taking votes away from Democrat Al Gore.
"I'm running as a Democrat," Kucinich said, arguing his progressive policies would bring in new people -- like those from the Green Party -- who otherwise would not vote.
Whether Kucinich could win came up several times, but it did not dominate his appearance. Kucinich's passion and readiness to talk about philosophical issues resonated with some of those in attendance.
"I've heard he doesn't have a chance, but I don't believe it," Kendal resident Melanie Adams told the Valley News. "I was inspired after his speech."
Kucinich argued that the United State's decision to go to war in Iraq was based on lies. "We've gone into a moral cul-de-sac and we must get out of it," he said. "We have to have a courageous insistence on truth. I mean, what is a lie other than an attempt to construct another reality with words?"
This brought to mind a scene from Alice in Wonderland for Kucinich. He began acting the part of Alice when she is frightened by a deck of playing cards until she realizes what they are.
"You're nothing but a pack of cards!" Kucinich cried, leaping onto the stage in the community room.
"We have to be ready to challenge this pack of cards, this pack of lies," he said.
Subscribe to this blog's feed