Kucinich campaign Kick-off Tour

To:
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 2003 17:08:29 -0700
Subject: Kick-Off Tour - Big Success
From: "Kucinich Campaign" <info@kucinich.us>

Too bad for the national media pundits who've wished the Kucinich
campaign would just go away...because Kucinich for President has surged
in recent weeks. Other campaigns have seen their fundraising decline;
ours is growing!

EXCITING KICK-OFF TOUR
The tour that began in Cleveland with the formal announcement of
candidacy and headed to 10 cities in 3 days has been a smash success.
Large enthusiastic crowds have greeted the candidate -- Minnesota Public
Radio estimated last night's Minneapolis crowd at 2,000! Local news
coverage has been decent, with perhaps millions of new people learning
about our campaign. Along the way, Dennis was joined and supported by
such well-known figures as Ani DiFranco, Studs Terkel, Mimi Kennedy and
Dr. Patch Adams.

EXCITING $$ NEWS
Unlike other campaigns that are in decline, the Kucinich campaign today
announced an increase in fundraising -- $1.65 million this quarter (up
from last quarter's $1.54 million). We raised nearly $1 million in
September alone! With an average donation of $72, the vast majority of
our funds will be federally matched. A chunk of September's funds came
from the Peace Day parties, showing that house party fundraising plus
Internet fundraising is the wave of the future. As a grassroots
campaign with a huge volunteer base, Kucinich for President doesn't need
to equal other campaigns dollar for dollar.

EXCITING ENDORSEMENTS
Endorsements keep rolling in -- from Democratic leaders such as New
Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner E. Shirley Baca (who praised
Kucinich for "standing up to large utility companies") to Green Party
leaders like Winona LaDuke ("Dennis is not a Green, but he is Green in
his heart.")

A top Minnesota Democrat is State Senate Majority Leader John Hottinger;
asked by reporters why he was endorsing a candidate said to have little
chance of winning, Hottinger replied: "It was oft said about Bill
Clinton and Jimmy Carter, too. Ideas launch candidates, not public
relations." Another endorsing Minnesota State Senator, John Marty,
praised Kucinich as coming "from the same mold" as the late Sen. Paul
Wellstone.

DONATE to keep our campaign surging: toll-free (866) 413-3664 or online
https://www.kucinich.us/contribute.php

SEE/READ DENNIS' SPEECH
http://www.kucinich.us/announce-news.htm

HEAR ACTRESS MIMI KENNEDY'S tour report:
http://www.kucinich.us/announce-updates.htm

READ MINN. PUBLIC RADIO on Minneapolis rally:
http://news.mpr.org/features/2003/10/15_helmsm_kucinich/

For more info: http://www.kucinich.us/

http://madison.indymedia.org/usermedia/audio/2/14494_1.13.03.mp3

Mimi Kennedy 00:04 - 03:35
Dennis Kucinich 03:10 - 15:55

:kick:

dp

good news

Minnesota Public Radio said we had 2,000, other sources had it at 1,400. I KNOW for a fact it was AT LEAST 1,400 in the high school auditorium. The ground floor of 900 seats was SRO, with at least 100 people standing in the aisles. The upper balcony was also full, and that had to seat at least 400 if not more.

If we REALLY want to take this party back to its constituents, Dennis is the way to go. He's got a record of defeating Repubs in tough races, and backing up his campaign promises with ACTION, whether it's politically popular or not.

ONWARD!

This is the first I've been able to report on his OKC stop. I've been so tired and trying to catch up!!

It was so exciting to have him get off that plane and walk thru the crowd of supporters greeting people and shaking hands all the way. As soon as I saw him, I started to cry!! I couldn't help it. All I could think of was "The hopes of the world lie on those shoulders and in that heart."

We had OK citizens on he stage with him who worked for the various companies here who have or are going to lose their jobs because they are moving overseas. Also a college student who talked to him about the rising cost of college tuition. He listened to them intently, writing down their names, and addressed all of their concerns with his plans to repeal our participation in NAFTA and the WTO, and manufacturing policy for this country.

He stayed and talked awhile with folks and signed autographs. He was extremely accessable and warm.

The best way to get a feel for the man is to get yourself to one of his appearances. You'll not be the same afterwards.

Thanks so much for posting. People indeed are brought to tears when they see him speak in person. It is a remarkable experience. People who have never seen him speak in person simply don't get it.