Fmr. NY Gov. Mario Cuomo: Edwards Comes Closest To Facing Hard Issues

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

Edwards, Kucinich agree to share support in Iowa caucuses
Monday, January 19, 2004 Posted: 3:37 PM EST (2037 GMT)

John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich have agreed to send their supporters each others' way if one isn't getting the votes needed to remain viable in a given caucus in Iowa.

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."