WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich Tuesday filed papers to join the growing filed of Democrats looking to challenge for a nomination in the 2004 presidential race.
However, Kucinich is the only Democrat currently in the field who voted against the resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq last fall.
His stance against any possible invasion of Iraq and his long history of aligning himself with organized labor -- including a vow to repeal the North American Free Trade Agreement if elected -- gives Kucinich strong credibility with the left-leaning branch of his party.
Although he filed the papers Tuesday to form an exploratory campaign committee -- which will allow him to raise funds before a formal announcement -- last week he told a gathering of the Iowa branch of the AFL-CIO that his history of labor relations, beginning with his father who was a Teamster member.
"The hopes and dreams of the men and women who sent me to Congress are the stars by which I journey," he told the gathering. "Whenever there is an organizing campaign, a picket line to walk, jobs to save, working conditions to improve, laws to champion, I'm there. This is my purpose: To stand up and to speak out on behalf of those who have built this country and who want to rebuild this country."
Despite this strong relationship with labor, Kucinich has seen the most publicity for his vehement opposition to a war with Iraq and his defense of civil liberties in the faces of changes proposed and made following the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
"We cannot justify widespread wiretaps and Internet surveillance without judicial supervision, let alone with it. We cannot justify secret searches without a warrant. We cannot justify giving the attorney general the ability to designate domestic terror groups. We cannot justify giving the FBI total access to any type of data, which may exist in any system anywhere such as medical records and financial records," he told a group of California Democrats Monday.
But in joining the other six declared candidates for the nomination -- with several others still likely to join the fray -- Kucinich's inherent advantage are diluted by other candidates already in the race. Vermont Gov. Howard Dean has also been critical of the process involving Iraq and former House Democratic leader Dick Gephardt, D-Mo., also has as many friends in organized labor.
Other candidates in various stages of declaring runs for the nomination include three senators -- John Kerry of Massachusetts, John Edwards of North Carolina and Joe Lieberman of Connecticut. Lieberman also served as running mate in the 2000 campaign of then-Vice President Al Gore. On Tuesday, former Illinois Sen. Carol Moseley Braun also announced an exploratory committee.
Florida Sen. Bob Graham and Connecticut's other Sen. Chris Dodd are strongly considering bids, as are former Sen. Gary Hart, former Gen. Wesley Clark. Graham would join Kucinich as the only sitting members of Congress to vote against the Iraq resolution. But none has filed the appropriate paperwork to begin raising money for an eventual campaign.
