Ohio congressman running for president to visit Stevens Point, WI
Originally published in the Stevens Point Journal
Fri, Feb 13, 2004
Ohio congressman running for president to visit Point
By KATE GARSOMBKE
Journal staff
Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich will campaign Saturday in Stevens Point, bringing with him a musician known for his collaborations with the Dave Matthews Band.
Kucinich, an Ohio congressman, plans to arrive around 1:45 p.m. Saturday at the field house at Stevens Point Area Senior High, 1201 Northpoint Drive, said Ann Seidl, event coordinator for Kucinich's Wisconsin campaign. Prior to Kucinich's speech, guitarist Tim Reynolds will perform.
Kucinich consistently has recorded 1 percent to 3 percent of votes so far in state Democratic primaries and caucuses. However, his best showings occurred in the Feb. 7 Maine and Feb. 8 Washington primaries. He garnered 16 percent of Maine's votes and 8 percent of Washington's votes, coming in third in both states - above North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
Despite his finishes so far, Kucinich will continue to campaign until the Democratic convention, Seidl said. "Dennis is in it for the entire time," she said. "He is climbing in the polls, as evidenced by Washington and Maine."
Kucinich's visit will be part of a three-day trip through the state. Saturday he flies into Green Bay for a rally, then drives to Stevens Point and later heads to Milwaukee. Sunday and Monday he makes more stops in Milwaukee, Jefferson, Madison, Viroqua and La Crosse.
His speech will focus on job creation, pricing of agricultural products and creating living wages in the state, Seidl said.
She said the location of Kucinich's rally - at a high school - and his rock-concert approach to his visits aren't necessarily meant to appeal to younger voters. It's more likely that his sustainable platform is more palatable to a younger crowd, Seidl said. "Younger people find a lot to be hopeful about with Dennis," she said. "I don't think he's made any special effort to get younger voters; he's just as popular with elderly voters."
Having the event at SPASH isn't a problem with the school district's political campaign rules because the rally is taking place on the weekend and it's for the whole community, said Stevens Point Area School District Superintendent David Schuler. The campaign plans to reimburse the school district for custodial clean-up costs, he said.
Kucinich has been known to pair up with entertainers for his campaign stops. One of his most vocal supporters is country music icon Willie Nelson, who has held benefit concerts for the Ohio congressman. Other well-known supporters include actors Elliott Gould and Ed Asner, and folk-rocker Ani DiFranco.
Reynolds has been a guest musician on all of the Dave Matthews Bands' albums. He has toured with the band and he has performed as an acoustic duo with Matthews.
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