I just came from our local Kucinich meeting [View All]

[Lydia Leftcoast]

and there were five new people there.

We had reports from people who spent up to nine days in Iowa leading up to the caucuses, and they came back very positive.

One volunteer, whose job it was to give people rides to the caucuses and pick them up afterward, reported that at each of the seven precincts she visited, DK got at least one delegate. She heard from Iowa relatives that there were other precincts where DK was just below the level of viability--over 10% but not quite 15%.

Although he came in fifth in overall polling, there were places where he came in second or third.

When the Minnesota group did visibility work on the day of the caucus (that means standing around and holding signs on street corners) they were pleasantly surprised at all the friendly honks and waves they got. (Having done visibility work for another candidate, I know that friendly honks and waves are not guaranteed.)

One of the people told us that the deal with Edwards was worked out at a time when both Edwards and Dennis were polling in the single digits. As personal friends, despite their differences on some issues, they put together the vote swapping agreement in order to keep each other viable. One reason he chose Edwards was that Edwards had not indulged in dissing other candidates. Another Minnesotan was present when Dennis told a reporter that the alliance would last for just the day of the caucus.

Dennis has the funds to stay in the race till Boston and no campaign debts. His plan is to either win the nomination or serve as a power broker to push the party away from its current corporate orientation.

We're getting ready to caucus in Minnesota on March 2, and the system is quite different than Iowa, with no horse trading and the 15% requirement operating district-wide instead of individually for each caucus.

Since the Twin Cities Kucinich supporters have had excellent luck in getting crowds out for his appearances, we're looking forward to the challenge.