Help America hear from a real democrat

Dennis wants to air this ad during the debate he is being excluded from.

I'm asking everyone who is pissed off by our current leadership to kick in what you can to let it run.

Forget for a moment the viability of his candidacy, and think of the opportunity to get that message out during the debate. It's worth $10 just to piss the leadership off!

-Hoot

Does anyone know what time the ad will run?

Why did he toss in the towel 2 days before the Iowa caucus and lend his support to Obama if he wants to continue his run?

Your guess is as good as mine, but I suspect that he'd rather run against Obama elsewhere than Edwards (who is my least evil choice of the front 3)

-Hoot

DU icon last night from DK to the peace sign (:cry:) and have pledged my support to JE. Let's hope that Dennis continues his outspoken manner in advocating for peace and justice.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

DES MOINES, IA: Democratic Presidential candidate and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich opened the New Year by publicly asking his Iowa supporters to vote for him in the caucuses this Thursday, and suggesting that if he did not make the 15% threshold, their second ballot should be for Senator Barack Obama. "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.

"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."

http://www.dennis4president.com/go/newsroom/kucinich-urges-supporters-to-back-obama-on-second-iowa-ballot/

what is baffling?

2004...
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/19/elec04.prez.edwards.kucinich/index.html

Edwards and Kucinich compete for many of the same voters. By asking his supporters in caucuses where he didn't make the 15% threshold to vote for Obama, Dennis was just helping his own candidacy. It had nothing to do with who Dennis likes the best among his competitors, it had everything to do with moving up in the pack, and with keeping the nomination from being sewed up early.

Why is that baffling?

In 2004, it was the same strategy. Dean and he were the anti-war candidates, Edwards wasn't running a populous anti-poverty campaign. Dean ideologically was his main competitor.

What's baffling to me is how difficult it is for some people to grasp basic political strategy.


Here's another example. Today Hillary talked about being an agent of change and she also talked about why she should be the candidate for the young. You might notice she didn't bash the corporations, she didn't talk about poverty in America. Why do you suppose she chose what she did to talk about?

It's because Hill sees Obama as her main competitor for the voters that she believes should be, ideologically, hers. She doesn't see the need to compete with or co-opt Edwards' themes and issues because she sees Obama as her main competition to moving up in the pack.

Asking your voters to support another candidate in the second ballot at the Iowa caucuses where you aren't viable isn't done because you feel really good about one of your competitors and if you can't get a delegate then you want your friend to get it. It's done to strategically improve your own standing, your own candidacy. What's so hard to understand?

I need something, anything to make me understand the move that Kucinch made on this.

Normally Kucinich is out in front explaining his moves to the people.

Honestly, I didn't think it was so hard to figure out either.

Its all about playing the game to your advantage. Dennis knows how to do it and yet when he does, everyone acts like he is either is crazy, full of ego or not a serious contender. What kind of bull is that?

Thanks for your post.:)

that's where I want to focus my energy