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Word from within the Obama New Hampshire campaign is that the Illinois Senator plans to announce that Dennis Kucinich will be his running mate after the New Hampshire primary.
According to a source close to Obama New Hampshire campaign chair, Ned Helms, Obama believes that among potential VP candidates, Dennis Kucinich is the best voice for the kind of fundamental change Obama is promising voters.
“Dennis has always been the ‘worker bee’ in this fight to end the war and change the way American works,” said Danie Zeiss, an Obama insider from Sanbornton.
A key factor in Obama’s decision is the generous offer Kucinich made in Iowa to have his supporters switch to Obama if he, Kucinich, did not reach a certain threshold of voters during the caucuses.
As reported on The Raw Story:
Obama was pleased with the development. “I have a lot of respect for Congressman Kucinich, and I’m honored that he has done this, because we both believe deeply in the need for fundamental change,” he said in a statement. “He and I have been fighting for a number of the same priorities — including an end to the war in Iraq that we both opposed from the start, reforming Washington and creating a better life for America’s working families.”
My own speculation is that aside from the ideological connection this is payback from Kucinich to the Clinton campaign for discussing with John Edwards the idea of dropping Kucinich and other “marginal” candidates from the debates.
The Kucinich for President Campaign is expressing “outrage” over rival candidates Hillary Clinton and John Edwards, who “were overheard collaborating on a strategy to eliminate other Democratic candidates from future debates and forums…..Candidates, no matter how important or influential they perceive themselves to be, do not have and should not have the power to determine who is allowed to speak to the American public and who is not,” the congressman said. Imperial candidates are as repugnant to the American people and to our Democracy as an imperial President.”
According to sources in the Obama campaign, the Senator will not formally name Kucinich until after the New Hampshire primary in the belief that Obama already has enough momentum to win the Granite State. Kucinich will be of better use to him in the weeks running up to the big February 5 contests, the source told us.
A Rake's Progress 
Kucinich voted against the Iraq war and subsequent funding. He advocates a single-payer health care for all system. He does not take corporate money. He has a long record for workers’ rights. He represents REAL change for America and would be a great asset to the Obama candidacy.
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That’s pretty damned funny, Obama and Kuchinich –> who is to the democratic party as Ron Paul is to the republican party. Wingnuts, both.
That squealing you hear is not the brakes from this supposed naming, but from HRC as she contemplates yet another primary loss in an election season which sees even pretty-hair Edwards doing better than the pied piper. Put some clothes on that girl of yours, willya?
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So you are an announced Hillary supporter and you are making statements purporting to represent inside knowledge about the Obama campaign, hours before the vote in which Hillary is about to have her ass handed to her—and you expect to be taken seriously? Seriously? Really? No, really? Really seriously?
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Everyone else can take my announcement of an Obama-Kucinich ticket seriously. You, Believer, don’t believe that information exists outside one’s own campaign. Fine, don’t believe it.
The fact that I am supporting Hillary has nothing to do with information that I received from someone within the Obama campaign.
Opinions don’t change facts.
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What’s your point, Liz?
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Edwards’ hair jokes? Really? That’s almost as tired as well, the term ‘wingnut’. Trying to marginalize Paul and Kucinich for not just being a scant 5% to the left or right of everyone else is really weak. At least they have the smarts and commitment to stand for solutions that aren’t some brand consultant-vetted status quo, and that’s to be respected, not ridiculed.
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Liz, I asked you what your point was and you did not respond. Sorry.
— Rake
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This is such a crock.
1) Who name’s a running mate after N.H.? I mean, anything can still happen. I know I have a bad memory, but I don’t remember any candidate, ever, choosing a v.p. before Super Tuesday.
2)Obama is not that stupid. Do you really think, after all the talk about independents going for Obama, nay, even some true repugs crossing the line this year, that he would be dumb enough to pick such a polarizing figure like Kucinich? Don’t get me wrong, I love Dennis for the most part, and I think he should be included in the debates. However, there is NO way that he wouldn’t be poison to any Democratic ticket. How long would it take to bring up UFO’s?
No, Obama won’t do this; isn’t thinking about this; indeed, if he hears this rumour he may laugh out loud at the desperation of the Hillary camp.
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great intel their rake. yes soonerdem, the desperation is getting pathetic. i do hope your correct though rake.
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Love this post. I think even if McCain had Ronald McDonald as his running mate, an Obama/Kucinich would still lose . . . . badly. Don’t get me wrong, Kucinich has some really good ideas. But, jeez, just look at him. He’s the Poster Child for the Anti-Viagra.
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We can only hope…
In my mind this would be the best possible ticket. Unfortunately Kucinich is just too far left for the masses, but with Obama as Pres. it could work.
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I could possibly see Kucinich in an Obama cabinet but not VP -either from the point of view of adding something to the ticket or his taking over as president.
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Could having a VP from Ohio help deliver Ohio, Pennsylvania, & Michigan? Certainly this resounds with the message of change. I hope the Obama campaign waits as long as they can and then name Kucinich as VP. Certainly after all the “talk” of which position Hillary is getting is all over.
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Kucinich could not deliver the evening newspaper even in Ohio.
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