Following the campaign, December 11
From Karin Caifa:
Campaign attacks media again
In yesterday’s note I pointed out that perhaps the presence of more reporters on the trail with Kucinich signified that perhaps their rocky relationship with the media was ameliorating.
Well, there’s been a setback. Apparently, last night’s New Hampshire debate reopened a lot of old wounds. Even though Kucinich was fielding handshakes, hugs and kind compliments for how he handled Ted Koppel’s questions as he went around the Granite State Wednesday, campaign and candidate were still miffed.
“If we could find a recipe for getting more people not to vote, this is it: ‘Don’t bother, Ted Koppel’s got it under control,’” Kucinich press secretary David Swanson said Wednesday, responding to last night’s questions about lagging poll numbers and low fundraising totals. “Clearly Dennis Kucinich took them to task for their unprofessional journalism and got thunderous applause.”
Adding fuel to the fire, ABC News pulled their off-air reporter from the Kucinich assignment late Wednesday afternoon, along with the reporters assigned to the Rev. Al Sharpton and Carol Moseley-Braun. (I knew something was amiss when my ABC counterpart ducked out of an event in Hopkinton, NH, to take a phone call, retrieved her coat and took off without saying goodbye.)
Kucinich heard of the ABC loss shortly before taping an appearance on CNBC’s “Capital Report” with Alan Murray and Gloria Borger. He said it’s not just ABC, but the entire media that’s calling him out of the race too soon. Citing those same low poll numbers and fundraising totals, Borger asked him, “Can you blame them, Congressman?”
Kucinich remained defiant. “They’re not passing out candy here. I’m a candidate for president of the United States,” he said. Referring to FCC codes, he said, “These broadcast rights belong to the people of the United States.”
Wooing undecideds in New Hampshire
Kucinich made the rounds through New Hampshire on Wednesday, starting with the youngest voters at Manchester High School and moving on to his labor friends for a Human Rights Day rally.
The folks in New Hampshire are extremely savvy thanks to their early primary; I asked many of them at these events if they’ve met at least one of the presidential candidates – most have seen 4 or 5. And despite the prevalence of Howard Dean signs along the back roads, there are a good deal who are still undecided.
Many people, regardless of where their allegiances lie, told me that Kucinich stole the show last night. “He was a champion for everyone last night,” said one woman. “He came off really, really well,” said one man.
But despite the performance, there are those who won’t vote for him because they just don’t think he can win. George Chase, a former member of the New Hampshire House who came to hear Kucinich speak in Hopkinton told me, “I wouldn’t mind voting for him, but I think everyone is focused on Bush and I need to cast my vote in the best way to do that.” He doesn’t think Kucinich is it.
New Hampshire state director Mary MacArthur tried to persuade people that the primaries are the place to vote your heart. One person mentioned that she voted her heart in 2000, casting her vote for Ralph Nader, and got burned. MacArthur said the primaries are a completely different scenario. “The election wasn’t decided by a vote last time, it was decided by the Supreme Court.”
In perhaps the most rustic spot on the campaign trail, Kucinich addressed members of the Northeast Organic Farming Association and an eclectic mix of avid supporters (the president of the New Hampshire Hemp Council was there) and – something I’ve not seen yet at his events – a good deal of undecideds.
25 people gathered out in the snow and ice to greet the congressman upon his arrival at the Hopkinton farm, while another 2 dozen waited inside a wood shop (kid you not, I was leaning up against a wood-cutting band saw) for his late arrival.
“There may be other candidates who say, ‘We can do it,’” Mac Arthur told them. “But what is it that they are trying to do? Look at Dean, look at Clark and look at Kucinich. They are all very different ‘its.’”
Kucinich spent about 45 minutes with the Hopkinton crowd, totally not dressed for the farm in his crisp dark suit with baby blue pinstripes and matching shirt and tie. He fielded a variety of questions ranging from agriculture to family leave to legalizing marijuana.
In a small victory, one woman who was seen sporting a Dean button at the beginning of the forum left wearing a Kucinich button instead.
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