Perhaps the strongest challenger Dennis Kucinich faces is Joe Cimperman, who has the backing of business interests and of Cleveland’s Mayor, Frank Jackson. The two differ in their politics, but come from the same mold. Kucinich and Cimperman are both Catholic, were born to large, poor families and were elected to Cleveland City Council while only in their twenties. And neither man is afraid of a little campaign drama.
The last few weeks have been filled with reciprocal campaign stunts.
First Cimperman plastered telephone poles near Kucinich’s headquarters with posters of the congressman and just one word in big bold print - MISSING.
Then the councilman showed up at Kucinich's home with a "welcome to Cleveland" basket. The visit came with a small army of local TV cameras in tow.
Then Cimperman took his own video crew to Kucinch’s local headquarters in search of the congressman.
Kucinich was absent, but he was far from silent.
Homeland Security showed up at Cimperman's door because of a complaint from the congressman’s office. Turns out it was technically illegal for Cimperman to videotape his search for the congressman at the Kucinich office, which is considered federal property.
Cimperman said the visits were meant to make a friendly point.
(Cimperman): "Anytime you give someone Kolackies and sausages, that's more of a peace offering to me. The fact that he wasn't there - that's what's shameful."
Kucinich countered with his own bit of Campaign Theater, delivered at his congressional kickoff speech before an audience of union supporters.
(Kucinich): "I am prepared to encounter any kind of dirty tricks or aggression toward our own personal space because I'm doing this for you."
The back and forth hasn’t stopped there.
The same day Kucinich issued his own ad on You-Tube seeking cash to protect his seat from moneyed interests.
Bite: "Right now, I'm under attack by corporate interests, most of them from the city of Cleveland, who have an agenda that has nothing to do with the people of my community, nor with most people in this country."
Some longtime Kucinich supporters are falling away, including Jack Campbell. He says Kucinich has become an embarrassment with talk of UFO’s – and he’s just not around enough.
(Campbell): "Dennis' job is to take care of the citizens of Cleveland and he's not here. It's Don Quixote. And that's not the guy I want representing me."
Besides Cimperman, the four candidates opposing Cimperman are. Thomas O'Grady a popular suburban mayor, former teacher and army intelligence officer. Rosemary Palmer, a teacher who lost a son in Iraq. And Barbara Anne Ferris, who lost to Kucinich in 2006.
Opponents charge that Kucinich’s progressive notions mean little if they're only, well, notions, and they say, he’s unwilling or unable to work with congressional colleagues.
A search for Kucinich legislation indicates that just one bill initiated by the congressman has made it to law in 11 years. That bill passed almost 10 years ago. It made a movie about America available to a school and a museum.
In response, Dennis Kucinich says that focusing on that one piece of sponsored legislation paints a particularly narrow view of his impact. He says he has successfully co-sponsored numerous amendments to bills that benefit his district. And even when his ideas were defeated, Kucinich takes credit for raising awareness of issues such as the need to get out of the war in Iraq and the need for policies on universal healthcare and alternative energy.
And hardly anyone is counting Kucinich out.
David Cohen, a political scientist at the University of Akron, says the number of Democratic opponents in the primary will likely split the vote in Kucinch's favor. But, Cohen says, what could trip up the congressman’s reelection bid is whether voters here believe his celebrity has practical benefits.
(Cohen): "Congress is kind of divided into work horses and show horses. I think most people would put Dennis into the show horse category."
While Kucinich has become a caricature of himself in the eyes of some, he is a local political icon for others and their loyalty runs deep. Kucinich says he’s their champion while his opponents are beholden to corporate bosses.
(Kucinich): "In the fight for the 10th district it is working people who will prevail.”
In the past, Kucinich has refused to debate his congressional opponents – even as he insists on a place at the table in the presidential candidate debates. One sign that he is feeling more heat than usual is at home is that he has agreed to a February 19th debate sponsored by the Cleveland City Club.
Kymberli Hagelberg, 90.3.