Kucinich has no plans to drop out of race, he says
Originally published by KRT Wire
Posted on Fri, Mar. 05, 2004
Kucinich has no plans to drop out of race, he says
BY EMILY RAMSHAW
The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS - (KRT) - Rep. Dennis Kucinich said Friday that he has no plans of dropping out of the presidential race despite John Kerry's near-lock on the Democratic nomination.
The Ohio congressman told The Dallas Morning News editorial board that he will continue to push Kerry to discuss issues they disagree on - including the war in Iraq, the anti-terrorism Patriot Act, trade and health care.
"It's not in the interest of the Democratic Party to close off the debate right now," Kucinich said. "Kerry has taken the ball to the three-yard line, but it's going to be hard for him to take it all the way without addressing the issues I brought into this campaign."
Kucinich said he appeals to the same constituency that consumer advocate Ralph Nader draws, and he hopes to sway those voters to the Democratic Party. He said he is not interested in running on Nader's independent ticket, despite their similar views.
"I'm here to make the Democrats a viable second party," Kucinich said. "I am not interested in third party endeavors."
Never one to dodge a love-life question, the bachelor candidate also said he has not yet had his date with actress Jennifer Tilly, whom he chose in a "Dating Game" skit on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.
"I've got her number, and I've been meaning to call," he said.
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