Democrat Kucinich To End Presidential Bid

(CBS/AP)  Democrat Dennis Kucinich is abandoning his second, long-shot bid for the White House as he faces a tough fight to hold onto his other job — U.S. congressman.

Joe Benny, the district director of Kucinich's congressional office, confirmed to CBS News that the Ohio congressman was dropping out of the race.

In an interview with Cleveland's Plain Dealer, the six-term House member said he was quitting the race and would make a formal announcement on Friday.

"I will be announcing that I'm transiting out of the presidential campaign," Kucinich said. "I'm making that announcement tomorrow about a new direction."

Kucinich has received little support in his presidential bid; he got 1 percent of the vote in the New Hampshire primary and was shut out in the Iowa caucuses. He did have a devoted following.

Kucinich, 61, is facing four challengers in the Democratic congressional primary March 4, and earlier this week he made an urgent appeal on his Web site for funds for his re-election. Rival Joe Cimperman has been critical of Kucinich for focusing too much time outside of his district while campaigning for president.

His decision comes a month after his youngest brother, Perry Kucinich, was found dead.

Kucinich said he will not endorse another Democrat in the primary.

Kucinich brought the same sense of idealism to his second run for president as he did in his first bid. He said he was entering the race again because the Democratic Party wasn't pushing hard enough to end the Iraq war.

Once dubbed the "boy mayor" of Cleveland, he made an unpopular decision to refuse to sell a publicly owned utility that pushed the city into default and drove him from office.

After the city's financial troubles, the mayor faced death threats, and was forced to wear a bulletproof vest when he threw out the first ball at a Cleveland Indians game. He barely survived a recall vote.

But he lost his bid for re-election as mayor of Cleveland in 1978 to Republican George Voinovich, who went on to become governor and then U.S. senator. His life and his political career were derailed. Kucinich spent more than a decade trying to get back into politics — traveling around the country and then working as a teacher, consultant and television news reporter.

In 1994, Kucinich was elected state senator and he then won a seat in Congress in 1996. His once unpopular stand against the sale of the municipal electric system was praised as courageous. In 1998, the Cleveland City Council issued him a commendation for having the foresight to refuse to sell it.

During his time in Congress, Kucinich has been one of the most outspoken liberals, opposing international trade agreements like the North America Free Trade Agreement and marching with protesters in Seattle during a meeting of the World Trade Organization.

As a presidential candidate, he has proposed a Department of Peace, backed universal health care and supported gay marriage. He also pushed for impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney.

At a debate last October, Kucinich delivered one of the night's lighter moments when he confirmed seeing an unidentified flying object at the Washington state home of actress Shirley MacLaine. With a smile, he said he would open a campaign office in Roswell, N.M., home to many alleged UFO sightings.

Kucinich married British citizen Elizabeth Harper, in 2005, ensuring his 2008 campaign would have one dramatic difference from his first campaign. Kucinich told New Hampshire audiences during the 2004 race that he was seeking a mate. Women then vied for a date with him during a contest arranged by a New Hampshire political Web site, but nothing romantic evolved from Kucinich's breakfast with the winner.

[tngreen]

The voters have once again proven just how badly democracy is wasted on them, by voting for whomever the corporate-owned media tells them to. You get the government you deserve, America, and Dennis is too good for you.

[abbe91]

"Dennis can be much more helpful in getting the Bush klan members to be held accountable for their crimes, if he is not president. His voice does not need to be tempered, and since he doesn''''t have to consort with the insiders who planned and executed the crimes, he will have much more credibility from the outside.

Posted by brianbwb at 11:41 PM : Jan 24, 2008"

Good point.

[likeitis5050]

Too bad, but his wife needs to shut up now and party with Bill to keep him occupied!

[aaabee-2009]

Posted by tmcoop at 01:12 AM : Jan 25, 2008

Agree. He is exactly what we need as president, and therefore, never stood a chance.

I like this man mostly because he fessed up to seeing a UFO. I wish they would just land and get it over with.

But really, Dennis stands on principle and doesn''t seem bought by strong-arm influences. He knows Washington and the games. He seems to operate, to see, and to be outside of the polluted circle of overly-privilaged, disgustingly wealthy politicians we have up there now.

Bye, Dennis. See you at the Landing.

[aaabee-2009]

It looks like you will finally get your vote on Iraq in November libs. If you loose you can always join Al-Qaeda. Posted by hillaryin08 at 08:06 AM : Jan 25, 2008

Thanks, can you get your war-supporting buddies another stack of applications, Mr. Recruiter?

It is so refreshing to read your posts and see just how adverse to freedom of choice, dialogue, and opinion you consistently show yourself to be.

Have a great Bush day, while it lasts.

[easeup-2009]

The ONLY reason he is dropping out is he is in real danger of loosing his seat in Congress. His constituents have had enough of him neglecting his obligations at home to go on his foolish ego trips.

I hope he gets beat.

[hillaryin08]

It looks like you will finally get your vote on Iraq in November libs. If you loose you can always join Al-Qaeda.

[excoachken]

Thanks to Kucinich for bringing on real issues that needed to be debated. Now it is time for him to support the best candidate that the Dems could offer and the only one that the GOP fears, John Edwards.

[tmcoop]

Global_chick, just about everyone has seen an unidentified object in the sky at one time or another. As for abortions, Dennis didn''t decide Roe vs. Wade, the Supreme Court did. He is pro-choice, but favors innovative ways to reduce the need for abortions through supportive policy to promote adoption and helping the poor!

I''m glad he''s against guns and murder. This sound like what Jesus stood for! And let the immigrants in. Let most of them in, unless they are criminals. You are no better than any of them. They are just trying to find a better life. I love diversity and I love Mexicans!
I''m glad he is against the death penalty. Murder is murder. You say don''t kill an unborn child but then support the death penalty. Hmmmm???

Global_chick, Kucinich isn%u2019t the nutcase here. Bush''s policy was responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq. There were no weapons of mass destruction, and the U.S. foreign policy of bullying and putting our nose into everyone else''s affairs are the main reason why we are the object of terrorism and are despised around the world. Dennis Kucinich Rocks and I''d gladly fly in a UFO anytime with him! I''ve got to go global_chick. I''ve got a date with a hot green alien man.

[tmcoop]

Did you know Dennis was honored by the Cleveland City Council years later for saving the electric utility and therefore saving the city millions of dollars? He stood on principle and he was right. He was also right all along about the Iraq War.

He is an intelligent, visionary man with fantastic ideas such as non-profit universal healthcare, a much needed Dept. of Peace, and equal rights for ALL Americans, including GLBT. He is also an environmentalist and favors free college education. He knows that we could have spent the war money on domestic issues. He''s served honorably as a six-term U.S. Congressman and I hope he is reelected again. We need him in Congress!