Dennis Kucinich Behind in Race After Redistricting

[웃 910]

Kucinich Behind in Race After Redistricting

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who won a national following among liberals in two colorful but unsuccessful runs for president, appeared poised to lose Tuesday to fellow Ohio Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur, leaving his political future in question.

Mr. Kucinich has visited Washington state, prompting speculation that he might run for Congress from there if he loses his Ohio seat, and his campaign has declined to rule out that option. It would be a highly unusual move, but Washington leans Democratic and there is an open congressional seat in a Seattle-area district.

Mr. Kucinich and Ms. Kaptur faced each other because Ohio lost two congressional districts as part of this year's redistricting process. Republicans, who control Ohio's government, drew them into the same district.

The Republican primary was too close to call late Tuesday between auctioneer Steve Kraus and Samuel Wurzelbacher, who gained fame after John McCain's presidential campaign promoted him as "Joe the Plumber." But the Ninth Congressional District leans Democratic so the party's winner will be heavily favored.

Ms. Kaptur, 65 years old, who came to Congress in 1983, is the longest-serving female member of the House. She is a traditional working-class Catholic Democrat, strongly opposed to free-trade agreements and holding conservative views on abortion.

If she wins in November, Ms. Kaptur would be in line to serve as the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, which controls federal spending, though other Democrats could challenge her for the post.

Mr. Kucinich, also 65, is a flashier breed of Democrat. At age 31, he served as the "boy mayor of Cleveland" and won election to the House in 1996. A staunch liberal who ran for president in 2004 and 2008, he's also a proud vegan who advocates the creation of a U.S. Department of Peace.

Actors including Ed Begley Jr. publicly supported Mr. Kucinich. In contrast, Ms. Kaptur won the backing of actor Tom Hanks, who cited her work on creating a World War II Memorial in Washington.

The Kaptur-Kucinich race was the first to be decided among 11 incumbent-versus-incumbent races this year that feature some of the hardest-fought House campaigns of the election season. Businessman Graham Veysey was trailing in the Ohio contest by a significant margin.

As in many races between incumbents of the same party, Ms. Kaptur and Mr. Kucinich share many positions, so the campaign turned in large part on personal issues.

Ms. Kaptur said Mr. Kucinich had become more interested in attracting national attention than representing the people of Ohio. In recent days, her campaign ran radio ads suggesting Mr. Kucinich would abandon the Cleveland area just as the Cleveland Browns football team and basketball star LeBron James did.

The Kucinich campaign accused Ms. Kaptur's operation of stealing its bright yellow "Dennis!" yard lawn signs, which her campaign denied. Mr. Kucinich criticized the congresswoman for accepting donations from defense contractors.

Other coming incumbent-versus-incumbent races are becoming equally fierce. In California, where longtime Democratic Reps. Howard Berman and Brad Sherman are facing off, the Los Angeles Jewish Journal has created a blog about the race called "Two Jews, one district."

In Illinois, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican freshman supported by the tea party, faces veteran Republican Rep. Don Manzullo. Mr. Kinzinger calls Mr. Manzullo a Washington insider, while Mr. Manzullo's campaign says Mr. Kinzinger is "not that different from a Democrat."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204276304577265920792464982.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

If he loses, what exactly is the question about his "political future"? Do you have any question?

Edited March 7, 2012 by Gary and Alla

[웃 910]

If he loses, what exactly is the question about his "political future"? Do you have any question?

No

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

If he loses, what exactly is the question about his "political future"? Do you have any question?

The question is spelled out pretty clearly in the article. It's whether he'll move to WA to run for Congress there.

Mr. Kucinich has visited Washington state, prompting speculation that he might run for Congress from there if he loses his Ohio seat, and his campaign has declined to rule out that option. It would be a highly unusual move, but Washington leans Democratic and there is an open congressional seat in a Seattle-area district.

[natty bumppo 297]

The question is spelled out pretty clearly in the article. It's whether he'll move to WA to run for Congress there.

so he is simply another career politician without a clue on how go get a job in the private sector .... basically a leech.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

so he is simply another career politician without a clue on how go get a job in the private sector .... basically a leech.

basically, yes

[luckytxn 2,265]

Well he lost. Lets see if he can find a real job.

[Brother Hesekiel 2,236]

He would be my dream candidate for President of the United States. Probably one of less than 10 Congressmen who cannot be bought by Corporate America and one of less than 5 who are straight shooters, just like Ron Paul.

He's been a victim of redistricting and he'll be back.