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Posted: August 29, 2007 4:23 PM
Kucinich Fights for Coverage
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Since launching his second presidential bid, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D, has battled for camera time, first calling out front-runners Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., for excluding him from debates.

Now, Kucinich is taking on ABC for allegedly hiding poll results on its Web site ABC.com. The poll, which was featured on the site shortly after the network’s Aug. 19 debate, asked online users to vote for who they felt won the debate.

“On Monday afternoon, Congressman Kucinich took a significant lead in the ABC online poll,” reported Mother Jones. “About the time he took that lead, ABC removed the poll from its prominent position on the ABC Web site. Then, a new poll suddenly went up, ‘Who is winning the Democratic debate?’”

Kucinich tied with Clinton in that poll, but “news about the poll is nowhere to be seen on the ABC Web site,” according to Mother Jones, which also reported that Kucinich was cut out of a group photo of the candidates in the debate.

The Kucinich campaign has demanded an explanation from ABC but said it has yet to receive one.

Despite his disappointment, Kucinich has been campaigning in Maine this week, appearing at events in Kennebunkport and south Portland. Local NBC affiliate WLBZ2 that in 2004, Kucinich was quite popular in the state, coming in third behind Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.

Monday, the Ohio representative appeared with other candidates in Iowa at the Livestrong Presidential Candidate Cancer Forum, moderated by political talk show host Chris Matthews and Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong. There, Kucinich drew laughter for references to his diet and his 31-years-younger wife, Elizabeth.

“After being asked if the Food and Drug Administration is always working in the best interest of the American people, the Ohio congressman lamented the amount of genetically modified food on the market — using it is an opportunity to tout his own lifestyle choices,” reported MSNBC. “People want a president who is healthy, because if you’re healthy, you can think right,” he said.

Kucinich went on to explain some of the health benefits he’s gained from a vegan diet, including increased energy and clarity. When Matthews suggested that Kucinich’s healthy lifestyle may have had a hand in his match with Elizabeth, he said, “I’m 60 years old, I have a — my wife’s 29, you draw your own conclusions. Diet helps.”