Kucinich plans stop at Lacey college per student's request
Originally published in the Olympian
Kucinich plans stop at Lacey college per student's request
BRAD SHANNON THE OLYMPIAN
South Sound will finally get to glimpse a presidential candidate next month when Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich, the outspoken liberal who wants to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq, makes an appearance.
Kucinich plans a one-hour meeting with the public at Saint Martin's College in Lacey on Feb. 4 -- three days before state Democrats will meet in caucuses to select delegates for the presidential conventions in the summer, spokesmen for his state campaign said.
Kucinich already was going to be in Seattle Feb. 4 and 5, but his trip to Saint Martin's was partly the result of the persistence of Martin Moore, a Saint Martin's student who worked tirelessly during the past couple of months to get at least one Democratic candidate to land on campus.
Moore is president of the campus Democratic Donkey Club and has tentatively scheduled the event for 8:30 a.m.
"This is a hell of a big deal" for the club, said Moore, a 19-year-old majoring in music education with a minor in political science. "At the beginning, we thought this would be our major goal, but we didn't think it would happen. Now that it's happened, I'm ready to jump out of myself -- out of my body -- I'm so excited."
Moore, who said he is not endorsing any one candidate but is trying to engage students in the campaign, also is trying to lure Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and other candidates.
Kucinich's appearance locally highlights the strength that he, as a darling of Democratic liberals and some Green Party activists, has developed in Washington and especially in Thurston County.
"What we expect to see here is a stronger showing than in any of the other states," state campaign spokeswoman Patty Kuderer said Wednesday.
Kucinich is an underdog in Iowa, where caucuses will take place Monday, and in New Hampshire, where Democratic front-runner Howard Dean of Vermont hopes to hold off a charge by retired Gen. Wesley Clark of Arkansas.
"If you believe the national polls, we believe that in Washington state he's going to have a much stronger showing. That's either going to build up the momentum that has gotten started or is going to kick-start the campaign going into Super Tuesday" on March 2, Kuderer said.
His trip to Lacey is part of a two-day visit that includes state Democratic Party functions in Everett and Seattle and a trip to Spokane, all on Feb. 5.
The Democrats will have a breakfast, lunch and dinner that day for any presidential candidates who want to attend two days before the caucuses -- topping it off with a crab feed that evening at Saint Martin's, party spokeswoman Kirstin Brost said.
Kucinich, who will catch the first two events, is the only one to sign up for any of the events so far, Brost said.
Kucinich has come to Washington a couple of times already, as has Dean, who has been losing ground in some states. Congressman Richard Gephardt of Missouri also was in the state earlier this month, playing on his longtime loyalty to labor.
Kucinich backers cite his consistent opposition to U.S. intervention in Iraq, his support for universal health care coverage and other positions as reasons to support his candidacy.
"I am very excited because so many people who have seen Dennis in person immediately are supporters and want to work for his election. He's electrifying," said Cheryl Crist, Thurston County organizer.
But some Democrats who admire Kucinich say other candidates have a better chance of winning.
State Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, is among those going with Dean, thinking he stands the best chance of beating President Bush.
Hunt said he likes all nine Democratic candidates and finds that Kucinich "warms the cockles of liberals' hearts," including his.
South Sound Republicans, including party Chairman Randall Rappe, have been pleased to see Dean's success, though he'd like it better if Kucinich, whose support has been in the single digits in Iowa and New Hampshire, somehow won the party nomination.
Subscribe to this blog's feed