Maui puts Kucinich on the map
WAILUKU - A healthy turnout of the disillusioned and the enthusiastic led to "a huge sweep" for Congressman Dennis Kucinich in the Maui County Democratic Party caucuses Tuesday evening.
Maui party Chairman Jonathan Starr said the numbers reflected the effort of the Kucinich campaign - which included two stopovers by the candidate - and concerns over the directions taken by the Bush administration.
"We've had more than triple what the party's ever had for its caucuses," Starr said. "The thing that was unique is Kucinich had a huge sweep on Maui."
He credited Kucinich's strong showing on Maui to the appearances made by the Ohio congressman in October and on Sunday in one-day campaign visits, and the effort of Kucinich campaign leaders, including Ave Diaz.
"It demonstrates one of those basic political truths that you have to go out and touch people. It means you have to reach out and connect with people," Starr said.
Diaz was ecstatic in reporting the numbers received by her candidate, although the victory on Maui did not carry over statewide, where Sen. John Kerry triumphed overall.
"This is great for us and we're really happy with what has happened," she said.
For all the excitement over Kucinich's success on Maui, the greater elation was over the turnout, which Democratic leaders said included people who said they were switching parties.
"It was a great turnout. Our phone was ringing off the hook. Eight people called to say they were lifelong Republicans, but can they join our party," Starr said.
"There was a lot of excitement. People couldn't get into the rooms and we didn't have enough paper. . . . We just had a lot more than we expected, over 750, almost 800 in Maui County.
"In other years, we've had just a couple of hundred," he said.
"I think that on the national level people are very concerned about the presidential race. What I've been hearing on the phone and tonight is that there are people who just don't feel that the Bush administration and the Republican Congress have taken the country where they want to go.
"There is disillusionment in the Republican administration and Congress," Starr said.
His thoughts were echoed by Lance Holter, Maui County 12th District chairman, who said all the party leaders "were thrilled with the turnout."
"We had a tremendous amount of enthusiasm. There were a lot of new Democrats who were formerly independents or Greens, who turned out for Kucinich," Holter said.
"We signed up this one man who had just become a citizen and turned out to vote for the first time. He was from England and said there's nowhere else in the world where you can do this, except in America," Holter said. "He was really thrilled."
An Upcountry precinct leader was also delighted with Kucinich's Maui victory and hoped to become a Hawaii delegate to the Democratic convention in July.
"I'm so excited, I would love to go to Boston," said Joy Brann of Keokea, a political novice who became involved as part of her growing awareness as a social sciences senior at the University of Hawaii-West Oahu.
"I've never done the convention things before; so I'm totally learning every step of the way."
Brann works as a health educator and said she wants to champion Kucinich's position on a national stage "so our government will choose to move in a more progressive direction that benefits humanity . . . (especially) the invisible ones, the ones without jobs, without health care, without adequate income to afford basic needs - the ones who are not earning a living wage."
On Maui, the final tally showed Kucinich had 384 votes, followed by Kerry - who won statewide with 50 percent of the votes - with 228; Sen. John Edwards with 76; and Gov. Howard Dean, 29.
Statewide, Kucinich still did well with 26 percent of the votes, while Edwards had 14 percent, Dean had 9 percent and Gen. Wesley Clark, 1 percent.
"I'm ecstatic. All our folks are ecstatic," Starr said. "Kihei had more than 150 people, and that's five times what we have had there in the past."
Holter said he believed that many longtime Republicans are feeling betrayed by the Bush administration's economic policies.
"There were Republicans there tonight who were extremely outraged over the deficit. They felt these were not the Republican values they had signed up for, and they felt they had a better chance to restore those values by turning to the Democrats," Holter said.
"The big motivator was Bush."
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