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June 4, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 21, 2004 Kucinich loves Ore. supporters By Bill Choy Ashland Daily Tidings Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich expressed gratitude for his positive showing in the Oregon primary election and said he hoped to return to the state and Ashland in the near future in an interview with the Tidings on Thursday afternoon. Kucinich, a congressman from Ohio, spoke from his cell phone on the steps of Congress in Washington, D.C., during a break from voting in the House chambers. Kucinich spoke on a number of topics, including his concerns about Iraq, his appreciation to Oregon voters for giving him delegates at July's Democratic National Convention in Boston, and his fondness for Ashland. He has visited here twice in recent months, once in March and again at the beginning of May to speak at the Act for the Earth Conference. Kucinich has become a popular choice for president in Ashland with a vocal following, from large turn-outs during his appearances here to bumper stickers and signs in support of Kucinich found throughout the town. He was pleased with his positive showing in the Oregon primary, garnering an estimated 16 percent of the vote with 90 percent of the ballots counted, and approximately 22 percent of the vote in Jackson County, compared to the 70 percent for front-runner John Kerry. Kucinich needed at least 15 percent of the vote to have delegates from Oregon represent him at the Democratic National Convention. Kucinich officials in Oregon estimate he will receive nine delegates out of 46 candidates available. It was "a pleasant surprise" to see the support Oregon showed, he said. "I'm excited with the results," Kucinich said. "We had a lot of response throughout the state. It was nice to see the support. Oregon is a state that is progressive and is looking forward to the future. They're very grounded." Even his cell phone dying on him near the end of the interview did not deter him. About 20 minutes later, he called the Tidings, apologized for the phone trouble and finished the conversation. Kucinich has admitted he doesn't expect to win the nomination. He hopes instead to present his platform during the national convention and hopefully it will be debated and discussed and be part of the presidential election agenda. This includes leaving Iraq and letting the United Nations take over, environmental renewal and clean energy, repeal of the Patriot Act, and universal health care. Meeting Oregonians Kucinich said his several jaunts to Oregon leading up to the primary helped him with his positive showing. "There's not question about it," Kucinich said. "People like to see who they're voting for. I had people in Oregon who told me they normally don't vote in they primary but did this time to vote for me." He visited many smaller communities not normally marked on the scheduled by presidential candidates such as Florence, Pendleton and Ashland. Barry Marks of Portland, media coordinator for the Kucinich campaign in Oregon, agreed that going to smaller communities made a difference. "He visited communities that haven't had a presidential candidate visit in 40 years," he said. "That turned out to be very effective. The message began to get across he wasn't seeking the nomination, but that he wanted to get out his platform message of getting out of Iraq and universal health care." Kucinich hopes to return to Oregon before the national convention in July. He plans to keep his Portland office open to drum up support for the convention, he said. When his travel plans become final, Kucinich hopes to put Ashland on the list of cities he will visit, he said. "I have made a lot of friends in Oregon and I plan to be back, and I expect to be in Ashland again," he said. "I just feel at home in Oregon." Kucinich said he has liked the vibe he has received in Ashland, and feels it's a town that shares his beliefs. "There's a sense of freedom there," he said about Ashland. "People really pursue their dreams there and it's spiritual without being religious. It's artistic and there's such physical beauty. I'm definitely coming back sooner rather than later." Iraq Kucinich has been in staunch opposition of what he has called "the illegal war in Iraq." If elected to the presidency, Kucinich would turn Iraq over to the United Nations and bring U.S. troops home within 90 days. To Kucinich, if the U.S. continues its course in Iraq, it will lead to a longer war, damage to America's security, the deaths of more troops and civilians, and the spending of hundreds of billions in tax dollars. He said he has been disturbed by events coming out of Iraq, including the abuse of Iraqis in U.S. custody, the beheading of an American citizen, and the 40 people killed by U.S. troops who were allegedly part of an Iraqi wedding party. Military officials have said the attack was against foreign fighters who had fired first. "Of course we're going to lose men and women, and of course there are these tragedies in the Iraqi prisons and Iraqi citizens are being killed because everything about this war is wrong," said an emotional Kucinich. More Americans are realizing that the U.S. should not be in Iraq, and are for his plans for peace and leaving Iraq, he said. "People want to see America take a new direction," Kucinich said. "Every community is being affected. "My heart goes out to all the men and women who serve and the innocent civilians who have lost their lives and I will continue to speak at the convention about what's going on in Iraq." 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