Dennis Kucinich vs Marcy Kaptur

Ohio's radical right Republican state legislature just gerrymandered that state's congressional districts. One of the effects was to push Dennis Kucinich and Marcy Kaptur into one district. Both are basically progressives-- and both are members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. But there are differences. The election is in 12 days. Last night Kucinich sent out a list of reasons why he's the better choice:

Marcy Kaptur voted to fund Bush’s wars. Dennis did not.

Marcy Kaptur voted for the Patriot Act. Dennis did not.

Marcy Kaptur supports the Keystone pipeline. Dennis does not.

Dennis has worked relentlessly for nuclear safety at Davis-Besse. Marcy Kaptur has not.

Dennis supported the Dream Act. Marcy Kaptur opposed it.

Dennis supports Marriage Equality. Marcy Kaptur opposes it.

Dennis fully supports Choice. Marcy Kaptur opposes it.

Democrats are loathe to get involved in this kind of a fratricidal fight. Blue America doesn't endorse in primaries unless there is one really bad Democrat-- like, say Tim Holden (Blue Dog-PA)-- running against one really good Democrat-- like Matt Cartwright. This northeast Ohio race was one we were never going to jump in as a PAC. I will say, however, that for all her economic populism, Kaptur doesn't measure up to Kucinich, one of Congress' most outstanding Members. Alan Grayson has been campaigning for him-- and raised $50,000 for his race. [UPDATE: A Kucinich supporter informed me that Grayson has raised another $100,000 for Dennis since that original push!] “Congress is full of replaceable parts," Grayson explained. "But Dennis Kucinich is not one of them. Dennis is unique.” And on his Facebook page Tuesday Grayson explained why he had maxed out personally to the Kucinich reelection campaign:

Two weeks from today, the remarkable 43-year political career of Congressman Dennis Kucinich will either continue, or it will end. I want it to continue. So I’m maxing out to Dennis Kucinich’s campaign.
 
The Federal Election Campaign Act permits me to contribute $2,500 toward Dennis’s March 6 primary. That’s what I’m doing. Today.
 
I’m doing it for all of us – everyone with a head, a heart and a spine. Every good progressive who will benefit if Dennis Kucinich remains in Congress.
 
I’m doing it for Dennis, because he’s my friend.
 
And I’m doing it for myself. Because:
 
(1) If I’m elected to Congress again this year, all of us will get more good things done – myself included – if Dennis is there to energize and galvanize the Democrats in the House. And . . .
 
(2) When I wake up on the morning of March 7, the day after Dennis’s primary, I don’t want any regrets. No “if only I had . . . .”s. Whether Dennis wins or he loses, I want to feel that I did everything that I could to help him.
 
Maybe you do, too.