Dennis Kucinich presidential campaign, 2008
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| Dennis Kucinich | |
|---|---|
| 2008 Democratic candidate for President of the United States |
|
 Dennis Kucinich (D - Ohio) |
|
| Campaign website | Dennis Kucinich 2008 |
| Current office | Congressman 1997–present |
| Other offices held | Mayor of Cleveland 1977–1979 |
Dennis Kucinich announced on December 12, 2006 that he would seek the nomination for the Democratic Party to run for President of the United States. Although a Democratic candidate, he was not included in the New Hampshire debates on January 4, 2008 nor the South Carolina debates on January 21, 2008 because of his poor showings in the Iowa caucuses and the polls.
On Thursday, January 24th, 2008, Kucinich dropped his bid for the Democratic nomination after failing to draw more than 2% of the vote in a single contest. In withdrawing from the race, he cited his exclusion from Presidential debates and to continue his service in Congress.[1]
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[edit] Campaign platform
On December 11, 2006 in a speech delivered at Cleveland City Hall, Kucinich announced he would seek the nomination of the Democratic Party for President in 2008. His platform[2] for 2008 included:
- Creating a single-payer system of universal health care that provides full coverage for all Americans by passage of the United States National Health Insurance Act.
- The immediate, phased withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq; replacing them with an international security force.
- Guaranteed quality education for all; including free pre-kindergarten and college for all who want it.
- Immediate withdrawal from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
- Repealing the USA PATRIOT Act.
- Fostering a world of international cooperation.
- Abolishing the death penalty.
- Environmental renewal and clean energy.
- Preventing the privatization of social security.
- Providing full social security benefits at age 65.
- Creating a cabinet-level "Department of Peace"
- Ratifying the ABM Treaty and the Kyoto Protocol.
- Introducing reforms to bring about instant-runoff voting.
- Protecting a woman's right to choose while decreasing the number of abortions performed in the U.S.
- Ending the War on Drugs.
- Legalizing same-sex marriage.
- Creating a balance between workers and corporations.
- Ending the H-1B and L-1 visa Programs
- Restoring rural communities and family farms.
- Strengthening gun control.
Kucinich describes his stance on the issues as mainstream.[3] "My politics are center for the Democratic party," he said in an interview before an AFL-CIO sponsored debate.[4]
[edit] Polling
Dennis Kucinich was last (8-12th) in early polls but got stronger and in June and July climbed to 4th and 5th in several polls. In the Rasmussen Reports poll of 14 August 2007, Dennis Kucinich is tied for 5th place, behind Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator Barack Obama, former Senator John Edwards, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, and tied with Senator Joe Biden. Data from Rasmussen Reports The latest Rasmussen poll of Democratic candidates, released on September 5th, 2007 showed Kucinich in a tie for fourth place with Governor Richardson with 4% of Democratic voters saying they support him. [1] The latest FOX News poll that did not include former Vice President Al Gore placed Kucinich with 4% of registered Democratic voters, behind Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John Edwards. Including Gore, Kucinich is tied with Governor Richardson.[citation needed]
In the early primary state of New Hampshire, Kucinich has polled as high as tied for 4th place at 7% [5].
Kucinich has fared much better with unofficial online polls of "netroots" voters, winning the November 2007 Democracy for America "pulse poll", taking first place in over 40 states [2]. Likewise, Kucinich took first in a Daily Kos poll of who won the Las Vegas presidential primary debate [3].
[edit] Endorsements
Kucinich's campaign was endorsed by Viggo Mortensen, Sean Penn,[6] the Arab-American Political Action Committee,[7] the Mexican America Political Association,[8] Atlanta Progressive News,[9] and Bill Rosendahl[10]
[edit] Exclusions from debates and primaries
Kucinich was excluded from the January 15, 2008 debate in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kucinich sued for the right to participate in the debate, but the Nevada Supreme Court ruled in favor of MSNBC.[11]
Kucinich was excluded from Texas Democratic Primary because he refused to sign a so-called "loyalty oath," which required the signers to "fully support the Democratic nominee for president, whoever that shall be." Kucinich lost his federal suit to be included on the ballot. Kucinich is appealing the decision to the United States Supreme Court.[12]
[edit] Withdrawal from race
On January 25, 2008, Dennis Kucinich dropped his presidential bid.[13]
[edit] Endorsements of other candidates
Since withdrawing, Kucinich has yet to completely endorse any candidate. However, Kucinich named Ron Paul as his choice running mate in November, 2007. [14] [15] In a January 1st, 2008 press release Kucinich asked his Iowa supports to make Barack Obama their second choice. [16]
[edit] Delegate count
| Candidate | Actual pledged delegates1 (3,253 of 3,409 total) |
Predicted pledged delegates2 (3,409 of 3,409 total) |
Estimated superdelegates2 (694 of 825 total) |
Estimated total delegates2 (4,103 of 4,234 total; 2,118 needed to win) |
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| Barack Obama | 1,661 | 1,763 | 438 | 2,201 | ||||
| Hillary Rodham Clinton | 1,592 | 1,640 | 256 | 1,896 | ||||
| John Edwards | - | 6 | - | 6 | ||||
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| Sources: 1 "Primary Season Election Results", The New York Times, (regularly updated). 2 "Election Center 2008 Primaries and Caucuses: Results: Democratic Scorecard", CNN, (regularly updated). |
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[edit] Notes and references
- ^ Cillizza, Chris. Why Kucinich Dropped Out Now. The Washington Post, January 24, 2008.
- ^ dennis4president.com - Issues
- ^ Naymik, Mark, Many Kucinich backers are out there – way out, <http://www.cleveland.com/kucinich/plaindealer/index.ssf?/kucinich/more/1047214686213910.html>. Retrieved on 14 October 2007
- ^ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5xgWei7Paw Dennis Kucinich interview on MSNBC's Hardball program, August 8, 2007 (5:37 into clip)
- ^ Resmussen Reports poll
- ^ Sean Penn Endorses Dennis Kucinich In SF - News Story - KNTV | San Francisco
- ^ Arab-American Political Group Endorses Kucinich
- ^ dennis4president.com - Kucinich wins presidential endorsement from key Mexican American organization
- ^ dennis4president.com - APN Endorses Kucinich, McKinney for US Presidential Primaries
- ^ dennis4president.com - L. A. City Councilor Bill Rosendahl endorses Kucinich
- ^ Stelter, Brian. "NBC Wins Battle Over Debate", The New York Times, 2008-01-15. Retrieved on 2008-01-17.
- ^ Barnes, Robert. "Kucinich Asks for Supreme Court Review of Texas Case", Washington Post, 2008-01-17. Retrieved on 2008-01-17.
- ^ Kucinich withdraws from Presidential race at dennis4president.com. Retrieved 2008-01-29.
- ^ Kucinich suggests a Republican running mate - cleveland.com
- ^ Press TV - Kucinich favors Paul as running mate
- ^ "...I strongly encourage all of my supporters to make Barack Obama their second choice. Sen. Obama and I have one thing in common: Change."
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
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