Could Kucinich get elected to a statewide office?

[fujiyama]

I was wondering if he can. Some have commented that he wouldn't have a realistic chance, but if it's possible I think he would make either a great senator or governor.

I heard a similar thing about Gephardt, that he would be unable to win a statewide office because he's too liberal for MO. I heard that if they didn't redraw his disctrict he would have lost.

Is the same true of Kucinich?

[DemBones DemBones]

1. Kucinich was a state senator in Ohio before being elected to Congress

but has never run for an office that requires statewide votes. He was a city councilman and later the mayor of Cleveland, being elected to the council at age 23.

Every time he's been elected to a new office, he defeated a Republican incumbent.

His district is said to be rather conservative, a lot of Reagan Democrats.

Once I saw a journalist from the Cleveland Plain Dealer on C-SPAN and, although he didn't seem to agree at all with Kucinich politically, he said that Kucinich takes good care of his constituents and is known for coming home to Cleveland almost every weekend, attending a lot of weddings and funerals, and otherwise seeing his constituents. The journalist said if you wanted to meet Congressman Kucinich, it was easy to do. Sounded good to me!

I think we need him at a national level. :7

[Bombtrack]

2. No way, not senator or governor anyway

Ohio is still a slightly right leaning state. Kucinich wouldn't have a shot.

Sorry.

[OhioStateProgressive]

5. not really true

he probably could win...it would certainly be tough, that's for sure

Bob Taft has never been less liked around here, so I would think the Governors seat is possible

also Voinovich's Senate seat could be competitive if Dennis finally went back to being the politicial bulldog he used to be

[tinanator]

3. he can indeed

I know I dont have the acumen or years of experience others must possess to make proclamations about states they dont live in, but I'll go ahead and say YES, Kucinich can win the votes of all Americans, because he is far more highly evolved than any partisan hack, and any cognizant voter can recognize honesty when they see it, and appreciate it very much. He appeals to conservatives like nobody else can.

[cyclezealot]

4. Ohio cabinet full of right wing nuts.

Don't give Kucinich a hard time about this issue. Max Cleland a war hero and vetran and centrist, Gore a centrist could not carry Ohio or Georgia..The South is expected to send to the US Senate plenty of right wing nuts like the new Senator from Georgia...
Polls say Hilary Clinton will do poorly against Guiliani.Don't be dumping on Kucinich for nationwide trends everywhere...No other Democrats in Ohio has a chance against right wing Taft, so Kucinich has no different story than many others in such states...
But in a Debate against Bush, Bush would be soiling his pants when Dennis was completed with him.

[Eric J in MN]

6. Kucinich would have about as good a chance as any Democrat in

Kucinich would have about as good a chance as any Democrat in winning a US Senate seat from Ohio in 2006.

Kucinich could attract money from around the country and bring people to the polls who otherwise wouldn't vote in a midterm election.

I hope Kucinich runs for the US Senate in 2006.