Kucinich Takes Iowa, New Hampshire and 45 Other states in National Grassroots Democrat Poll
PR Newswire | November 18, 2007
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich topped all other Democratic Presidential candidates in 47 of 50 states in the first nationwide poll of grassroots, activist Democrats, according to final figures released today by the Howard Dean-founded Democracy for America (DFA) political action committee.
In Iowa and New Hampshire, widely regarded as bellwether states because of their early positions in balloting, Kucinich scored stunning victories over former Senator John Edwards, Senator Barack Obama, and touted front-runner Senator Hillary Clinton.
In Iowa, Kucinich captured more than 24% of the vote from among nine Democratic candidates, including write-in Al Gore, coming in ahead of second-place Edwards and third-place Obama. In New Hampshire, the first in the nation primary election, Kucinich scored almost 34% of the votes, more than Edwards and Obama combined.
In the only three states in which he was not the top vote-getter - South Carolina, Illinois, and Washington - Kucinich came in a close second.
"Democrats who really care about the future of our Party and our nation sent a very strong message with their votes in the DFA poll," said Kucinich, whose national and state-by-state poll results have been moving upward recently. "They saw through the media hype, the millions of advertising dollars, the inconsistencies in other candidates' positions, and they voted their hearts and their consciences."
"Democrats are telling the candidates and the nation that they want the war in Iraq ended now. They want to stop the insanity that is leading us into another war in Iran. They want real health care reform, and they want a candidate who is willing to challenge the Bush Administration's Constitutional abuses to our civil liberties that are being condoned and advanced by the Democrat-controlled Congress," Kucinich said. "The impeachment of Dick Cheney is a factor," Kucinich said, "but this balloting began and ended before impeachment became a hot issue."
In the final DFA polls results, Kucinich was the clear, national first-place finisher with almost 32% of the votes cast. Write-in candidate Gore, the former Vice President and recent Nobel Peace Prize recipient, was a distant second with about 25%. Edwards had about 15.6%, and Obama had about 13.8%. Clinton barely edged out New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, with both tallying barely above 4%.
The outcome of the DFA poll means that Kucinich will get a DFA-sponsored boost in the 47 states that he won. The DFA, founded by former Vermont Governor, 2004 Presidential candidate, and current Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Howard Dean and currently under the leadership of Dean's brother James, has already sent emails to its members advising them of the results and promoting support for Kucinich.
"Democrats are supporting the core issues that they believe in and supporting the only candidate who is willing to give voice to their beliefs," Kucinich said. "The Democratic wing of the Democratic Party has spoken, and I am grateful for their support, and honored to have won their endorsement."
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