Kucinich endorsed Edwards in Iowa back in 2004. What changed DK to Obama? [View All]

[RiverStone]

From 2004:

DES MOINES, Iowa (CNN) -- Democratic presidential candidates John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich have struck a deal to support each other should one candidate fail to draw the minimum support needed to compete in Monday night's Iowa caucuses, Edwards campaign sources said.

The decision could give Edwards, a U.S. senator from North Carolina, a boost in the convoluted caucuses, the first major Democratic contest of the election year. An Iowa poll published over the weekend shows Edwards is in a tight race with the four front-runners. The same poll has Kucinich, an Ohio congressman, drawing the support of just 3 percent of likely caucus-goers.

"Both of us believe in a lot of the same things, and we like each other very much," Edwards said. "But both of us also recognize at the end of the day, caucus-goers will have to make their own decisions about this."

<snip>

Edwards and Kucinich have become friends during the campaign, sources in both campaigns said.

The deal was finalized Sunday, and Edwards and Kucinich spoke to each other about the arrangement several days ago, Edwards campaign sources said.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/01/19/elec04.prez.edwards.kucinich/index.html

From 2008:

SIOUX CITY, Iowa -- The Des Moines Register's Iowa Poll released late Monday shows Rep. Dennis Kucinich with the support of 1 percent of Democrats likely to attend Thursday's presidential caucuses.

So, it is not a huge victory for Sen. Barack Obama to receive the support of Kucinich in precincts where the Ohio congressman is not viable. Still, going into a close election, one never knows.

Kucinich said Tuesday that he would like his supporters to back Obama in places where they are not in large enough numbers to be viable. (Iowa Democratic Party rules require that a candidate receive support from 15 percent of caucus participants -- sometimes more -- to be deemed viable.)

“I hope Iowans will caucus for me as their first choice," Kucinich said in a statement. "But in those caucus locations where my support doesn't reach the necessary threshold, I strongly encourage all of my supporters to make Barack Obama their second choice. Sen. Obama and I have one thing in common: Change.”

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2008/01/kucinich_obama_is_my_second_ch.html

On Edit: Subject changed to reflect a question