Kucinich hopes ideas resonate in California
Originally published in the Indianapolis Star
Kucinich hopes ideas resonate in California
Los Angeles Times
February 29, 2004
LOS ANGELES -- Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich, fresh from an unexpectedly strong second-place finish in Hawaii's caucuses, cut a swath through Los Angeles on Saturday, hoping to win some votes in California's primary on Tuesday. [ed. note: now, this is a good way to start a story]
The congressman from Ohio brought his message to a South Central community garden, an immigrant rights rally and a local mosque as he addressed issues of particular importance in California -- such as immigration and the negative impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on U.S. and Mexican workers.
Perennially shrugging off the inattention of the national media, Kucinich -- who has won just nine of the 2,162 Democratic delegates needed to claim his party's nomination -- was welcomed by supporters who embraced his message of peace and human rights.
Starting the day with a breakfast at the United Autoworkers Local 250, Kucinich's remarks on his own blue-collar upbringing brought the crowd of about 250 to their feet.
Many of his most ardent supporters, however, preferred to hear the Democrat's ideas in a more intimate setting, like the 30-person fund-raising brunch at a Long Beach home.
There, Kucinich told some of the progressive faithful that his candidacy would "provide the people of California with a real choice in this election -- not a choice between the Republican version of the war in Iraq and a Democratic version of the war in Iraq."
Powered by vegan snacks scarfed in the campaign minivan, Kucinich then spoke at a community garden in South Central.
South Central Farmers Feeding Families is 14 acres of chain-link bordered communal plots of fruits and vegetables farmed by more than 300 families, many of whom are low-income Latinos.
Kucinich has made a point of appealing to minority voters. The campaign, with a war chest of about $10 million, has spent $30,000 on Spanish-language radio ads in the state.
And on Saturday he reinforced his message with a brief stop at an immigrant rights rally in front of City Hall and a cameo at the Masjid Omar ibn Al-Khattab mosque in downtown Los Angeles.
"Once Muslims find out about him they'll be so pleased to see a candidate that actually agrees with their views," said Nausheen Hassan, 27. [ed. note: cool! A mention of a Muslim for Kucinich!]
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