Woolsey First Member to Endorse Kucinich
Rep. Dennis Kucinich (Ohio) on Thursday became the last of the nine Democratic presidential candidates to rack up an endorsement from a Member of Congress when Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.) announced that she is backing her colleague.
Woolsey, who represents a liberal Northern California district, is a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which Kucinich leads. In a statement put out by the Kucinich campaign, she noted that the Ohioan has campaigned frequently in her district.
“The issues Dennis Kucinich fights for are the issues I fight for,” Woolsey said. “He supports peace, civil rights and the fight for working families that are important to me and the people of Marin and Sonoma Counties. If my district were the whole country, Dennis Kucinich could certainly be our next president. He offers the sharpest contrast to George W. Bush of any candidate running, and we appreciate that distinction.”
Unlike some of his rivals in the Democratic presidential race, Kucinich has downplayed the importance of Member endorsements. But today he said Woolsey’s support “reinforces my view that California, with its progressive leadership and voters, will be a springboard for me to the Democratic nomination.”