Changes

===Early life===

===Early life===

Kucinich was born in Cleveland in 1946 and attended local Catholic schools and [[Cleveland State University]]. He received a masters degree in Speech and Communications from [[Case Western University]] in 1974. At the age of 23, Kucinich began his political career by running for Cleveland City Council.

Kucinich was born in Cleveland in 1946 and attended local Catholic schools and [[Cleveland State University]]. He received a master's degree in Speech and Communications from [[Case Western University]] in 1974. At the age of 23, Kucinich began his political career by running for Cleveland City Council.

===Mayor===

===Mayor===

He won the election for City Council, and in 1977 ran for mayor of Cleveland and won the election, becoming the youngest person ever to lead a major American city.<ref>http://kucinich.house.gov/Biography/</ref> Kucinich married Sandra Lee McCarthy, whom he divorced in 1986.<ref name="nndb.com">http://www.nndb.com/people/763/000024691/</ref> When he took over the Mayor’s office in Cleveland, he received a city in disastrous economic conditions, all of which would be compounded under his administration. Under his administration, Cleveland would be the first city to go bankrupt since the [[Great Depression]]. Kucinich refused to grant a major bank in Cleveland, [[Cleveland Public Power]], request for the city to sell one of their municipal utility into the private sector. The disagreement between the bank and the mayor led to greater economic problems, causing the city to become the first to city to fall into [[default]] since the [[Great Depression]].<ref name="PBSBiography">{{cite web |last1=Silverman |first1=Cheryl |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106005946/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/primaries/kucinich_bio.html |title=Biography: Dennis Kucinich |work=[[PBS]]}}</ref> Mayor Kucinich appointed a 19 year old into a key position of office and also placed a 24-year-old, with less then a year experience as a [[stockbroker]], in office as city [[finance director]]. Kucinich also got into a fight with the popular Cleveland Police Chief, whom he fired on live TV for insubordination. The [[Cleveland Police Department]] later went on strike protesting the Mayor’s budget cuts. The public outraged at his policy, gave him the nickname of, "Dennis the Menace,” and called for a recall election.<ref name="nndb.com"/> In 1978, as Kucinich threw out the first pitch wearing a bullet proof vest, nearly all 75,000 fans at the opening of [[Cleveland Municipal Stadium]] booed him. The recall took place and Kucinich barely survived the recall, by only 236 votes.<ref name="PBSBiography" />

He won the election for City Council, and in 1977 ran for mayor of Cleveland and won the election, becoming the youngest person ever to lead a major American city.<ref>http://kucinich.house.gov/Biography/</ref> Kucinich married Sandra Lee McCarthy, whom he divorced in 1986.<ref name="nndb.com">http://www.nndb.com/people/763/000024691/</ref> When he took over the Mayor’s office in Cleveland, he received a city in disastrous economic conditions, all of which would be compounded under his administration. Under his administration, Cleveland would be the first city to go bankrupt since the [[Great Depression]]. Kucinich refused to grant a major bank in Cleveland, [[Cleveland Public Power]], request for the city to sell one of their municipal utility into the private sector. The disagreement between the bank and the mayor led to greater economic problems, causing the city to become the first to city to fall into [[default]] since the [[Great Depression]].<ref name="PBSBiography">{{cite web |last1=Silverman |first1=Cheryl |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106005946/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/vote2004/primaries/kucinich_bio.html |title=Biography: Dennis Kucinich |work=[[PBS]]}}</ref> Mayor Kucinich appointed a 19 year old into a key position of office and also placed a 24-year-old, with less than a year experience as a [[stockbroker]], in office as city [[finance director]]. Kucinich also got into a fight with the popular Cleveland Police Chief, whom he fired on live TV for insubordination. The [[Cleveland Police Department]] later went on strike protesting the Mayor’s budget cuts. The public outraged at his policy, gave him the nickname of, "Dennis the Menace,” and called for a recall election.<ref name="nndb.com"/> In 1978, as Kucinich threw out the first pitch wearing a bullet proof vest, nearly all 75,000 fans at the opening of [[Cleveland Municipal Stadium]] booed him. The recall took place and Kucinich barely survived the recall, by only 236 votes.<ref name="PBSBiography" />

===Congress===

===Congress===

===Abortion===

===Abortion===

Kucinich’s position on abortion has been somewhat of a “flip-flop.” During Kucinich’s first three terms at congress he compiled a consistently pro-life record; this earned him a 95-percent approval rating from the [[National Right to Life Committee]] in 2000. Kucinich stated that he believed that “life begins at conception.”<ref name="Enrich">{{cite web |last1=Enrich |first1=David |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/205977/kucinichs-choice-david-enrich |title=Kucinich’s Choice |work=[[National Review]] |date=February 20, 2003 }}</ref> However in 2003, he changed his position, stating that he was “pro-choice” and  promised before an Iowa campaign crowed in 2003, "as president, I would protect that right [to abortion], and I would also make sure that appointees to the [[Supreme Court]] protected that right."<ref name="Enrich" /> The President of the National Abortion Rights Action League, [[Kate Michelman]], stated that, “[Kucinich] understands that this [abortion] is a fundamental freedom. Do I think that's sincere? Yes I do." His support of abortion seems to correspond directly with the amount of campaign funding he gets from the abortion lobby.

Kucinich’s position on abortion has been somewhat of a “flip-flop.” During Kucinich’s first three terms at congress he compiled a consistently pro-life record; this earned him a 95-percent approval rating from the [[National Right to Life Committee]] in 2000. Kucinich stated that he believed that “life begins at conception.”<ref name="Enrich">{{cite web |last1=Enrich |first1=David |url=http://www.nationalreview.com/article/205977/kucinichs-choice-david-enrich |title=Kucinich’s Choice |work=[[National Review]] |date=February 20, 2003 }}</ref> However, in 2003, he changed his position, stating that he was “pro-choice” and  promised before an Iowa campaign crowed in 2003, "as president, I would protect that right [to abortion], and I would also make sure that appointees to the [[Supreme Court]] protected that right."<ref name="Enrich" /> The President of the National Abortion Rights Action League, [[Kate Michelman]], stated that, “[Kucinich] understands that this [abortion] is a fundamental freedom. Do I think that's sincere? Yes I do." His support of abortion seems to correspond directly with the amount of campaign funding he gets from the abortion lobby.

===Health Care===

===Health Care===

===Funding===

===Funding===

In first quarter fundraising Kucinich raised $756,567, more then 25 million behind the first quarter leader [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/democrat-obama-nears-clinton-first-quarter/story.aspx?guid=%7B841BDC61-B47D-4A74-87DB-1D3D49961CF4%7D</ref>  The second quarter fundraising for Kucinich was not released by his campaign. [[Chris Dodd]] and [[Mike Gravel]] also did not release fund raising estimates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/tag/second-quarter-fundraising/ |title=Second quarter fundraising |work=[[CNN]] }}</ref>

In first quarter fundraising Kucinich raised $756,567, more than 25 million behind the first quarter leader [[Hillary Clinton]].<ref>http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/democrat-obama-nears-clinton-first-quarter/story.aspx?guid=%7B841BDC61-B47D-4A74-87DB-1D3D49961CF4%7D</ref>  The second quarter fundraising for Kucinich was not released by his campaign. [[Chris Dodd]] and [[Mike Gravel]] also did not release fund raising estimates.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/tag/second-quarter-fundraising/ |title=Second quarter fundraising |work=[[CNN]] }}</ref>

===Primary Debates===

===Primary Debates===

In addition, he was excluded from a primary debate in Nevada, he sued for reentry and won. However, there has been no news since then concerning his reentry in to the debate.

In addition, he was excluded from a primary debate in Nevada, he sued for reentry and won. However, there has been no news since then concerning his reentry in to the debate.

He has withdrawn from the race and will pursue his seat in Congress.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127144214/http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/24/kucinich-drops-presidential-bid/ |title=Kucinich Drops Presidential Bid, Sets Sights on Keeping House Seat |work=[[Fox News]] |date=January 24, 2008 }}</ref>

He has withdrawn from the race and will pursue his seat in Congress.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080127144214/http://youdecide08.foxnews.com/2008/01/24/kucinich-drops-presidential-bid/ |title=Kucinich Drops Presidential Bid, Sets Sights on Keeping House Seat |work=Fox News |date=January 24, 2008 }}</ref>

During the primary, the press asked Kucinich about seeing UFO's. Actress Shirley MacLaine says Kucinich saw a UFO in the 1980s while visiting her Washington state home. MacLaine wrote "He saw a gigantic triangular craft, silent and observing him. It hovered for about 10 minutes or so and sped away with a speed he couldn't comprehend. He felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306616,00.html |title=Rep. Dennis Kucinich Acknowledges UFO Sighting |work=[[Fox News]] |date=October 31, 2007 }}</ref> He said ""I saw something."

During the primary, the press asked Kucinich about seeing UFO's. Actress Shirley MacLaine says Kucinich saw a UFO in the 1980s while visiting her Washington state home. MacLaine wrote "He saw a gigantic triangular craft, silent and observing him. It hovered for about 10 minutes or so and sped away with a speed he couldn't comprehend. He felt a connection in his heart and heard directions in his mind."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,306616,00.html |title=Rep. Dennis Kucinich Acknowledges UFO Sighting |work=[[Fox News]] |date=October 31, 2007 }}</ref> He said ""I saw something."