Pubdate: Tue, 12 Aug 2003
Source: Telegraph (NH)
Copyright: 2003 Telegraph Publishing Company
Contact:  http://www.nashuatelegraph.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/885
Author: Albert McKeon, Telegraph Staff
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/people/Dennis+Kucinich

KUCINICH SETS UP SHOP, PROMISES CHANGE

Photo: Staff photo by Don Himsel. U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, 
embraces Linda Macia of Manchester while addressing a crowd brought 
together for the opening of his Manchester presidential campaign office 
Monday morning. Kucinich had just mentioned his stance on health care and 
was taking questions when he turned his attention to Macia, who is 
wheelchair bound and described herself as ill, and had brought up the issue 
of medical marijuana use.

MANCHESTER -- How does a relatively unknown presidential candidate become a 
familiar face?

He opens his campaign headquarters in New Hampshire, the all-important 
first-in-the-nation primary state. Then he directly challenges his party's 
current dark horse and media darling, predicting he will steal that niche 
just in time for a primary win.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio achieved the first part of that strategy 
Monday, when he opened his Manchester campaign office, his first in the 
state. Now, he will embark on the more challenging part of the plan.

Consistently at the bottom of the nine-candidate Democratic pack in 
national and state polls, Kucinich went right after former Vermont Gov. 
Howard Dean -- the media favorite.

"Polls are simply a matter of what name is recognized today, but the 
election is not today," he said. "What you see here, this turnout, is a 
reflection of passionate people" who will determine the primary winner, he 
said.

"As the issues are defined, it's going to be very clear that my campaign 
represents the progressive alternative for Democrats. It's the progressive 
alternative. It's the liberal alternative."

Dean recently made the cover of Time and Newsweek magazines in the same 
week, the result of fund-raising success, a still-growing base of 
grassroots supporters and the perception of some in the media that he 
speaks straightforwardly on issues that differentiate him from the other 
Democrats.

But Kucinich wanted the large throng of supporters and curious that packed 
his Elm Street headquarters to know that he, not Dean, has the interest of 
progressive liberals at the heart of his campaign.

He vowed to introduce legislation that would abolish the Patriot Act, a law 
that he said undermines civil rights. He also wants to repeal the North 
American Free Trade Agreement and cut defense spending so that taxpayer 
money could better support domestic programs such as education and housing.

Kucinich promised to spend more time in the Granite State; this was his 
third visit. And he vowed to peak at the right time, in February, by 
campaigning hard over the next five months.

Brendan King of Tamworth is one of the progressive liberals Kucinich will 
target. King believes Kucinich will catch on in New Hampshire and usurp 
Dean because the former Vermont governor is "more moderate" on issues such 
as health care, Iraq and drugs.

Linda Macia of Manchester said Kucinich is the first candidate she has met 
who supports the legalization of medicinal marijuana.

She said Dean, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, Rep. Dick Gephardt of 
Missouri and Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina "are busy flip-flopping."

"They tell you to your face (they support it) and do another," she said.

Macia, who uses a wheelchair, said she is allergic to prescription 
narcotics and believes marijuana could help her.

She will, however, talk to other candidates before choosing which one to 
back in the primary, she said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom