The Gravel Surge Starts Now

David Weigel | January 24, 2008

Dennis Kucinich is out of the presidential race:

Kucinich will make the announcement Friday at a news conference in Cleveland. In an exclusive interview with Plain Dealer editors and reporters, Kucinich said he will explain his "transitioning" tomorrow. "I want to continue to serve in Congress," he said.

Like Ron Paul, Kucinich has drawn blood-in-the-water-sniffing candidates for his House seat. Unlike Paul, Kucinich's challengers are well-organized and don't have to compete with tens of millions of dollars in fundraising. (There's more than one challenger, though, and they could split the vote, so Kucinich isn't yet seen as endangered.)

I don't think Kucinich made any impact in this race, apart from moving a few liberal votes to Obama in Iowa, but he's struck me in my dealings as a decent guy with a politician-sized ego. Brian Doherty sang his praises in November.

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