Enthusiastic faithful rally for Kucinich
Originally published in the Seattle Post Intelligencer
Thursday, February 5, 2004
Enthusiastic faithful rally for Kucinich
Candidate is hoping to gain support from liberals in the region
By SAM SKOLNIK
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Long-shot presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich rallied his enthusiastic faithful at Seattle's Town Hall last night, slamming the Bush administration on trade and the environment in a speech interrupted several times with standing ovations.
Kucinich stood firm with an optimistic, defiant tone despite his poor showings in polling places to date.
Mike Urban / P-I
Leslie Sinclair, also known by the Arabic name Munira, expresses her enthusiasm for Dennis Kucinich at Idriss Mosque near Northgate.
He is hoping that Washington's Democrats prove true to their reputation -- that they are more liberal than average -- and thus are more receptive to his message.
Tuesday's primary results don't augur well for the Ohio congressman.
Kucinich finished dead last in four of the seven contests, with less than 2 percent of the vote.
In the three other states, he finished either second- or third-to-last. He fared best in New Mexico, with 5 percent of the tally.
So far, only two delegates have pledged themselves to Kucinich. That compares with 260 for the front-runner, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.
There are 95 delegates at stake in Washington, including 78 elected through the caucus-convention process and 17 "superdelegates" who are automatic delegates because of their office.
Kucinich planted himself in the state yesterday and today, hoping to lay claim to some of those delegates.
He spent the day in Western Washington, meeting with leaders from the region's Arab American and African American communities among others. He will campaign in the region again tomorrow before heading to Spokane and then to Michigan, the site of an upcoming primary.
Kucinich spoke to a packed house at Town Hall of more than 1,200 people.
They were receptive to his positions: signing the Kyoto climate change treaty; moving toward renewable energy sources; and "upholding worker rights and human rights as one and the same."
"I call on the spirit of Seattle of 1999!" Kucinich said to cheers, referring to the protests over the World Trade Organization.
Some of those attending the speech said they were there to make up their minds on who to support before Saturday's caucuses.
"I figure 1 percent of the voters can't be wrong," joked Ruth Haney, 28, who is currently debating supporting either Kucinich or North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
"I'm figuring out whether I'm going to vote for someone who I believe in, or someone who's more electable," said Haney of Seattle.
Kucinich has been one of the most solidly anti-war candidates in the field.
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