Kucinich spices up Democratic race

Ohio congressman offers purer anti-Pentagon alternative to Howard Dean

WASHINGTON, July 14 — Is Democratic presidential contender Rep. Dennis Kucinich more of a blessing or a curse for his rival Howard Dean? Taking stands to the left of Dean, who many strategists now deem the front-runner for the party’s nomination, Kucinich wants to cut the Pentagon budget by $60 billion, scrap free trade accords such as NAFTA, abolish the death penalty, and squelch private-sector insurance and pharmaceutical firms, squeezing them out with government-run entities.

KUCINICH’S views may make Dean appear moderate by comparison.
That would help the former Vermont governor since some in the news media and in rival campaigns have called Dean “too far left” to be able to beat President Bush in the general election.

‘SHARPEST CONTRAST’
But on the other hand there’s a part of the Democratic electorate that hungers for more than Dean can deliver in terms of anti-globalization, anti-death penalty and anti-Pentagon rhetoric.

more: http://www.msnbc.com/news/937252.asp?cp1=1