Kucinich
Dennis Kucinich
“City Councilman Joe Cimperman, once a Kucinich admirer, has raised nearly $500,000 and landed high-profile endorsements from the mayor and the city's daily newspaper in a feisty campaign heading into Tuesday's Democratic primary. ‘Mr. Kucinich is
not a congressman, he's a showman,’ said Cimperman, 37, who has belittled Kucinich's Hollywood ties and criticized congressional votes Kucinich missed during his presidential campaigns.
“Kucinich, 61, a liberal with a political resume stretching over four decades, sensed early that the Cimperman challenge was real. He abandoned his presidential campaign on Jan. 25, months earlier in the race than he did in 2004 when he also was polling in low one-digit numbers.”
From NBC’s Andy Merten
Dennis Kucinich may be out of the presidential race, but he’s not finished campaigning, just yet.
“I won’t be president, but I can continue to fight for these important issues as a U.S. Congressman,” said the former dark horse presidential candidate of universal healthcare and ending the war in Iraq during a press conference in Cleveland this afternoon. Kucinich, the former mayor of Cleveland, now represents the district, and is facing four challengers in the March 4 Democratic primary.
“I’m directing my energies to being re-elected to the Congress of the United States,” he told reporters, while flanked by supporters and his wife, Elizabeth. He went on to say that he will channel his presidential campaign into a new organization to push his anti-war, pro-labor agenda, called “Integrity Now” -- but the website, as of this writing, was just a sign-up sheet for future newsletters.
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From NBC's Mark Murray and Lauren Appelbaum
...if he doesn't meet the 15% threshold in Thursday's Iowa caucuses. Kucinich made a similar endorsement of Edwards back in 2004, and that (among many other things) helped Edwards finish second in Iowa that year. "This is obviously an 'Iowa-only' recommendation, as Sen. Obama and I are competing in the New Hampshire primary next Tuesday where I want to be the first choice of New Hampshire voters," Kucinich said in a statement."
"I hope Iowans will caucus for me as their first choice this Thursday, because of my singular positions on the war, on health care, and trade. This is an opportunity for people to stand up for themselves. But in those caucus locations where my support doesn't reach the necessary threshold, I strongly encourage all of my supporters to make Barack Obama their second choice. Sen. Obama and I have one thing in common: Change."
*** UPDATE *** Just several minutes before we received this statement, NBC/NJ's Aswini Anburajan received this one from Obama's New Hampshire spokesman: “The voters of New Hampshire deserve to hear all the Democratic candidates’ views on who can best lead America in a fundamentally new direction, and that’s why I urge these networks to allow full participation in this week’s debate.” As it has been reported, Kucinich -- due to ABC's requirements of either finishing in the top four in Iowa or receiving 5% in NH and national polls -- will likely be excluded from this weekend's New Hampshire debate.
*** UPDATE II *** And now Obama has issued this statement: “I have a lot of respect for Congressman Kucinich, and I’m honored that he has done this because we both believe deeply in the need for fundamental change."
More: “He and I have been fighting for a number of the same priorities -- including an end to the war in Iraq that we both opposed from the start, reforming Washington and creating a better life for America's working families. I encourage all Iowans to take part in the caucuses this Thursday – not because it will be good for any one candidate, but because it will be good for our party and the future of our country.”
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Here's a wrap up of the candidates' statements not mentioned on First Read so far from Obama, Clinton, McCain and Kucinich and as well as New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg:
OBAMA: "I am shocked and saddened by the death of Benazir Bhutto in this terrorist atrocity. She was a respected and resilient advocate for the democratic aspirations of the Pakistani people. We join with them in mourning her loss, and stand with them in their quest for democracy and against the terrorists who threaten the common security of the world."
CLINTON: "I am profoundly saddened and outraged by the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, a leader of tremendous political and personal courage. I came to know Mrs. Bhutto over many years, during her tenures as Prime Minister and during her years in exile. Mrs. Bhutto's concern for her country, and her family, propelled her to risk her life on behalf of the Pakistani people. She returned to Pakistan to fight for democracy despite threats and previous attempts on her life and now she has made the ultimate sacrifice. Her death is a tragedy for her country and a terrible reminder of the work that remains to bring peace, stability, and hope to regions of the globe too often paralyzed by fear, hatred, and violence.
*** UPDATE *** Edwards, Richardson, Biden and Huckabee weigh in
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From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Presidential candidate Dennis
Kucinich’s youngest brother, Perry, was found dead at his home in Cleveland, the AP and
Cleveland Plain Dealer are reporting.
“Perry Kucinich, 52, was found face down by another brother, Larry, at about 9 a.m.,” said Powell Caesar, spokesman for the Cuyahoga County Corner’s office said, per the AP.
There are no signs of foul play, Caesar said.
CORRECTION: Per a campaign release, Perry Kucinich was 51.
From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Sean Penn will endorse Kucinich this afternoon at a press conference in San Francisco, a source close to the Hollywood actor said. He will also be speaking on "the Constitution, the media and Dennis Kucinich," the source said. Expect a political speech.
Penn has donated $4,600 to John Edwards' campaign and $2,300 to Kucinich during this cycle, per FEC campaign finance data.
In March of this year, Penn wrote in a WorldNetDaily column that, "As things stand today, I will be voting for Dennis Kucinich, who has fought this war from the beginning. You might say Kucinich can't win. Well, we have an opportunity to re-establish the credibility of democracy as viewed by the world at large."
Penn is set to deliver "a blistering indictment of political leaders and an impassioned endorsement of Presidential proportions," according to a Kucinich press release.
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From NBC's Lauren Appelbaum
VIENNA, VA -- Arriving at the DNC Fall Meeting for the afternoon session, it is hard not to notice an absence of sorts. Driving into the Sheraton Premiere, Clinton and Edwards signs -- and no Obama signs -- line the path. At the door, Clinton supporters fight to be noticed among a lone Kucinich supporter, who wore a peace sign and attracted attention. Before any of the candidates slated to speak this afternoon (Kucinich, Biden, and Clinton), Howard Dean announced Clinton would not be addressing the DNC because of the hostage situation. The area reserved for the candidates' supporters emptied out a bit, going from a standing room only crowd to a comfortable crowd with some open seats.
Kucinich was the first presidential candidate to speak after lunch. He attempted to get as much material as possible into his 10-minute time slot. Speaking like an auctioneer, Kucinich discussed his plans for universal single-payer health care and for helping every American own a home because it is "a fundamental right in a democratic society." He took advantage of the opportunity to take a jab at Biden, saying the Delaware senator's call for Bush's impeachment if he goes to war with Iran "would be a little bit late, with all due respect."
Before ending his speech, Kucinich sent his good wishes toward Clinton and her campaign staff. "We're in solidarity with Hillary at this moment when we think about what she's going through." He then went on to express his sadness that some people can only express themselves through violence.
From NBC/NJ’s Carrie DannBiden's new "
Joe is Right" ad features complimentary
quotes from six of the senator's seven rivals. The missing candidate is
Kucinich, whose peace platform doesn't leave a lot of room for agreement with the measured policies of the Foreign Relations chairman.
Kucinich noticed. And he's mad as hell.
Per a release issued by his campaign, "Deliberately - and revealingly - missing from the political cast of characters in Biden's approving/adoring love-fest among the Democratic candidates is Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich. …The Congressman has the utmost respect for Senator Biden and his years of service to the nation. He just happens to be wrong on some very major issues; and, if the other candidates agree with him, then they're wrong, too.
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From NBC's Mike Viqueira
Something interesting is happening in your US House.
Kucinich wants to impeach the vice president. We knew that. But today, using special procedures of the House, he put forward his resolution of impeachment.
Before Kucinich could get a debate and a vote, Democratic Majority Leader Steny Hoyer stood up and moved to "table" -- i.e., kill -- the resolution. He knew that Republicans would just as soon see the resolution debated and have Democrats put on the spot to vote for or against the Kucinich measure.
At first, a whole bunch of Republicans voted with Hoyer to kill the resolution. Then they came to their senses and are in the process of switching their votes before the gavel comes down.
*** Update *** Now we are being treated to the spectacle of Democrats who had voted to table/kill the measure changing THEIR votes. They don't want to be in a postion of defending Dick Cheney if they don't have to.
*** Update II *** The House has just voted to refer the Kucinich impeachment resolution to committee. That means it's dead.
CORRECTION: Kucinich will NOT be in Florida Saturday. He will be in Dearborn, Mich.
From NBC’s Andy Merten
While in Concord earlier today to file for the New Hampshire primary, Kucinich used his moment with the press to come out harshly against his party’s top-tier presidential contenders’ policies towards Iraq, and also leveled some heavy criticism towards what he perceives to be pending military action toward Iran.
After filling out his primary registration paperwork, the Ohio congressman switched gears to campaign mode, listing off the flaws of Clinton, Edwards and Obama’s voting records on the Iraq War. On Obama: “I’m glad that he gave a speech where he said that he opposed the war. He got elected to the Senate -- what did he do? He voted over and over again to fund the war. He cannot square that, and he’ll never be able to square it.”
He then went on to address Clinton and Edwards. Regarding the New York senator, he said, “She voted a 100 percent of the time to fund the war, except for the last vote we had -- as the clock ran out, both she and Senator Obama, for the first time, decided to vote against funding.” And he dismissed Edwards’ repeated apologies for voting for the 2002 war authorization, saying, “Apologies are a little bit late when you’ve got dead bodies all over the field.”
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