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Democrat Kucinich to Launch 2008 Bid
(AP) Fed up with what he says is his party's failure to end the war in Iraq, Democratic U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich is entering the race for president _ again.
It's the second bid for the nation's top office for Kucinich, a six-term, liberal congressman from Cleveland whose long-shot presidential candidacy in 2004 made headlines more for Kucinich's bachelorhood than his policies. This time around Kucinich has a wife.
Kucinich, 60, scheduled a press conference Tuesday at City Hall to formally announce his 2008 campaign.
He said he was inspired to run because he disagrees with the way some of his fellow Democrats are handling the war, including approval of a proposal to spend $160 billion more on the conflict.
"Democrats were swept into power on Nov. 7 because of widespread voter discontent with the war in Iraq," Kucinich said Monday. "Instead of heeding those concerns and responding with a strong and immediate change in policies and direction, the Democratic congressional leadership seems inclined to continue funding the perpetuation of the war."
His previous presidential proposals have included a national peace department, canceling free trade policies he says hurt American jobs and a single-payer, universal health care system.
Kucinich joins Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, a fellow Democrat, in declaring his candidacy for the presidential nomination.
New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is considered the party's front-runner, closely followed by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. Neither has announced runs.
In 2004, Kucinich posted single digits in most primary elections, including his home state, yet stayed in the race.
He celebrated his bachelorhood on the campaign trail, telling New Hampshire audiences that he was seeking a mate. Women vied for a date with him during an online contest, but nothing romantic evolved from Kucinich's breakfast date with the winner. It did earn him appearances on late-night comedy talk shows.
Last year he married Elizabeth Harper. He won re-election to his House seat in 2006 with 66 percent of the vote, basing his campaign on job creation and criticizing rising gas prices. He also was an outspoken critic of his own party, saying Democrats have lost their soul by moving away from liberal ideals.
Kucinich was elected mayor of Cleveland at age 31, the youngest leader of a major American city. He also became the mayor of the first city since the Great Depression to go into default.
