Kucinich Drops Out

Friday, January 25, 2008

DEMOCRATIC FIELD DWINDLES

Kucinich Drops Out

A day after issuing an "urgent personal appeal" for donations to fight a tough primary battle against four challengers, Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio) announced Thursday that he plans to end his quixotic bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Kucinich's campaign released a statement that he will begin "transitioning out of the Democratic Presidential primary race" Friday, when he will make a formal announcement.

"I want to continue to serve in Congress," the six-term congressman told the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "There is a point at which you just realize that you, look, you accept it, that it isn't going to happen and you move on."

Kucinich's presidential quest has become a campaign issue in his Cleveland district, which his opponents say he is neglecting. He faces a stiff reelection challenge from Cleveland City Council member Joe Cimperman and North Olmstead Mayor Thomas O'Grady.

-- Garance Franke-Ruta

SORTING OUT LOUISIANA

McCain Declares a Win

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) declared victory in Tuesday's Louisiana caucuses. But the real winner was "uncommitted," a stand-in for an antiabortion slate.

Explaining what happened this week in Louisiana presents a serious challenge for even the most devoted political junkies. Consider this: Louisiana has 47 delegates to the Republican National Convention in September, 20 of which will be determined during a separate state primary on Feb. 9. Tuesday's caucuses elected 105 delegates to attend the Feb. 16 state convention, who in turn will elect 21 delegates. (The remaining six are split between the state chair, national committeeman and national committeewoman and the three bonus delegates the state received after Gov. Bobby Jindal's election.)

Of those 105 delegates chosen Tuesday, McCain received about 30, more than any other named candidate. But "uncommitted pro-life" received twice that, about 70 delegates. Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.) each received a few delegates, but state officials are still calculating the number each candidate received because so many provisional ballots were cast. Caucusgoers had to register as Republicans by Nov. 30 to participate in the process, but a number of voters showed up and cast provisional ballots, since questions remained over whether they had met this requirement.

Still, some delegates elected to the "uncommitted pro-life" slate say they will support McCain. The upshot: Wednesday night, the Louisiana GOP announced that the senator had won the state's caucus.

"Last night's results go to show that John McCain is the best hope of conservatives here in Louisiana and across the country," said former governor Buddy Roemer, McCain's state chairman. "The people of Louisiana know that actions speak louder than words, and that's why they chose John McCain over Mitt Romney. He is the only candidate with a long-held and consistent record of defending life, of protecting our national security, and of promoting pro-growth economic principles that benefit hardworking American families. John McCain is quickly emerging as the consensus candidate in the Republican race and the only conservative who can win this November."

-- Juliet Eilperin

A DATE FOR THE DEBATE

Chelsea Clinton Invites a Donor

Chelsea Clinton's parents have long guarded her from the public spotlight, but after she hit the trail in the Iowa caucuses, her profile in her mother's campaign has grown steadily.

Now, less than two weeks to Feb. 5, she is putting herself squarely in the spotlight. The Clintons' only child was the focus of a profile on NBC's "Today" show Thursday morning. That was followed by a fundraising e-mail sent out under her name. In the e-mail, Chelsea Clinton offered one potential donor the chance to sit with her while they watch her mother debate.

"I've been campaigning with her across the country -- and I'm definitely planning on being at the next debate. Would you like to join me? The campaign is picking an online supporter to watch the January 31 debate in Los Angeles with me and to meet my mom. I know she'll be thrilled to meet you -- she is so grateful for how much every supporter has done for her campaign," the e-mail read.

-- Matthew Mosk