Posted on 11/15/2003 10:00:32 PM PST by ServesURight
Dating contest over U.S. presidency contender
Associated Press
In the absence of scandal, no major U.S. political contest would be complete without a bit of romantic intrigue.
And so, while Dennis Kucinich may be lagging in the Democratic presidential race, he could end up winning a first lady.
The divorced Ohio congressman, 57, has been attracting some female attention since he talked about his ideal mate at a forum on women's issues in New Hampshire last week.
"As a bachelor, I get a chance to fantasize about my first lady," said Kucinich, who's been running in the low single digits in public opinion surveys of the nine candidates.
"And I certainly want a dynamic, outspoken woman (who's) fearless in her desire for peace in the world and for universal single-payer health care and a full-employment economy. If you're out there, call me."
Enter James Pindell, managing editor of the political news website PoliticsNH.com, who's posting pictures and bios of eligible ladies who want to meet Kucinich.
"The whole thing is obviously lighthearted and fun," said Pindell, who has offered to pay for a dinner date between Kucinich and the woman the congressman or web browsers choose.
"You can look at it two ways," Pindell said in an interview from Manchester, N.H. "If plenty of women want to date him, that could be a show of support. But if no one wants to have dinner with him for free, what does that say?"
By Tuesday, Pindell had at least three entries on his website and a couple dozen more to put up.
Gina Marie, 33, a sheriff's aide from New Jersey, said it's time to "embrace an assertive woman in the White House" and that Hillary Clinton didn't get the recognition she deserved.
Kathy, 52, a New York City high school math teacher, said she wants to discuss with Kucinich her ideas for using the Internet to help oust George W. Bush in next year's presidential election.
Kucinich spokesman David Swanson said in Washington that his candidate was obviously kidding when he invited women to call him. And he hasn't committed to having dinner with any of them. "We'll see what kind of time he has in his schedule."
But the dating game has finally focused some attention on Kucinich's agenda, Swanson said. "It's the only way these issues have gotten into the media."
Elected Cleveland's mayor at the age of 31 in 1977, Kucinich won a Senate seat in 1994 and ran for Congress in 1996.
A liberal Democrat supported by many Green Party members, including consumer advocate Ralph Nader, Kucinich says he would cancel U.S. membership in NAFTA and the World Trade Organization.
He was the only candidate in Congress who voted against authorizing Bush to invade Iraq. He opposes the death penalty, privatizing social security and weapons in space.
Kucinich supports the Kyoto greenhouse gas protocol that Bush refused to sign, universal health care, a "department of peace" and cutting the Pentagon budget by 15 per cent to fund a universal pre-kindergarten program.
Recent polls have pegged former Vermont governor Howard Dean and retired Gen. Wesley Clark as the top contenders in the race.
Kucinich looks like Bones McCoy on Star Trek and Helen Thomas looks like Grampa on the Munsters
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