Kucinich to join in isle political fray
Originally published in the Maui News
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Saturday, October 30, 2004 1:44 PM
Kucinich to join in isle political fray
By MATTHEW THAYER and EDWIN TANJI, Staff Writers
WAILUKU – With a focus on the presidential race, the campaigns on Maui will be heating up over the weekend with Maui Democrats announcing on Friday that Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich will arrive on the Valley Isle today.
Details of Kucinich’s schedule had not been completed Friday, but he will appear during a Maui Democratic Party rally scheduled for Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Kahului Shopping Center. He is also scheduled to speak on radio station KPMW 105.5-FM from 11 a.m. to noon Sunday.
Kucinich, who twice campaigned on Maui in seeking his party’s presidential nomination, will be back to represent the John Kerry campaign and to voice his objections to the invasion of Iraq. He is expected to speak at Maui churches tonight.
The Kucinich appearance will be just one of a number of events being put together to rally supporters on both sides of the presidential race between President George W. Bush and Kerry.
Earlier Friday, the Hawaii Republican Party announced that Gov. Linda Lingle will be on a “Rolling to Victory” tour of the state, with appearances at GOP rallies scheduled for Monday in Kahului and Lahaina.
A rally at the Maui Mall will begin at 10:30 a.m. The rally at the Lahaina Cannery Mall will begin at 11:30 a.m.
Republican Party Chairman Brennon Morioka said Lingle will appear at both rallies, although the exact timing will depend on flight schedules and traffic.
The Maui County Republican Party also has been holding sign-waving rallies in Kihei on Thursday and Kahului on Friday, reporting mixed reviews from the passing motorists.
On Friday, county GOP Chairman John Henry said the commuters included a number who made obscene gestures to the roadside rally.
“It was a friendlier crowd in Kihei,” he said. “We’ve had some people wave, but there have been some nasty people. I had my kids out here yesterday and people were flipping the bird. I told them some people just aren’t nice.”
For all the anger displayed, he said he is excited by the possibility that Bush could win Hawaii’s electoral votes. “I think Governor Linda Lingle has a lot to do with that.”
Up the Hana Highway near Baldwin Beach Park, a Democratic Party rally was greeting a line of motorists caught in the normal Paia afternoon jam, with many honks of support but others ignoring the sign-wavers.
“It’s the most important election in my lifetime and possibly the most important election in history,” said Jo Feinberg, a Pukalani resident. “It’s time to make a historical change. Think about the Supreme Court, our environment, honesty in government and what we will leave for future generations.
“Our government is headed on the wrong path,” she said.
The Maui Democrats will also hold sign-waving rallies Sunday in Lahaina and Monday in South Maui.
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