Mary Kaptur beats two-time Democratic presidential hopeful in state's only intra-party contest between sitting representatives
[Link for pic of Dennis and Mrs. Kucinich]
The two-time Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich could be out of Congress after losing in the Ohio primary contest.
Kucinich lost the Democratic primary to Marcy Kaptur, a longtime colleague on the liberal wing of the party, in a bruising showdown made necessary by a newly drawn congressional map.
Kaptur now faces the Republican candidate Samuel "Joe" Wurzelbacher, who became known as Joe the Plumber during the 2008 presidential campaign.
In a concession speech, Kucinich described Kaptur's campaign as "lacking in integrity" and "filled with false truths".
"I hope this is not a representation of how she'll run the district," he said.
Kaptur did not respond to Kucinich's criticism, but said in a statement that she would need his supporters and those of another primary contender, Graham Veysey, in the general election.
Kucinich is an eight-term congressman and two-time presidential candidate from Cleveland known for his quirky style and politically combative flair. Kaptur is in her 15th term representing the Toledo area of Ohio. She ran a campaign that emphasised her record of bringing federal money and projects back to the state.
Districts are redrawn every 10 years to reflect population changes in the new census. Ohio's lagging population growth caused the loss of two of its 18 congressional seats.
Whichever party controls a state legislature typically sets redistricting so that incumbents in the majority party are protected and minority party seats are put at risk.
Ohio Republicans drew just four of 16 districts that lean towards the Democrats in a state that is evenly divided between the two parties. The decision to snake a district along the Lake Erie shoreline, linking the Democratic strongholds of Cleveland and Toledo, resulted in the state's sole intra-party contest between sitting representatives.
Kucinich and Kaptur are both liberal Democrats who have been friends for years, but their campaign took a negative turn.
Wurzelbacher was thrust on the national scene by the Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, during the 2008 campaign, gaining his nickname after expressing working-class concerns about taxes to the then candidate Barack Obama during a campaign stop.
Poster Comment:
This is sorrowful news for Ohioans, Americans, and the those of the World who value Statesmanship and bravery that stands staunchly for Peaceful diplomacy and against the War-Mania hoardes. He stood strong by Ron Paul, as well, and those are most likely the reasons for the redistricting ploy to unseat him for Kaptur who has ignored calls to bring our Troops back home and to support Kucinich in his efforts to do that. Maybe he'll run for Mayor of Cleveland again or for Governor (the Warhawks might gloat over that as an even better option to lead his State away from their snares, yes?) or be called to work alongside Ron Paul as he has before.