Kucinich Wins Democracy For America Poll

Dennis Kucinich is the clear favorite among progressives responding to the most recent Democracy For America "Pulse Poll."

Democracy For America (DFA) is the organization of progressive Democrats who supported Howard Dean and it is currently headed by Dean's brother James H. Dean.  

Kucinich = 31.97%  49,364 (1st place votes)
Gore = 24.77%  38,242
Edwards= 15.6%   24,078
Obama 13.86  21,403
Clinton 4.21 % 6,504

I think this is a fairly accurate rating and ranking of the candidates' "progressive index."  (That is, except for Mike Gravel who is very progressive but with libertarian flavoring and just doesn't seem to have much support.)

Since the polling was done by ranking your top three choices the results graphic at DFA's website has the feature of removing candidates to see what would happen in various configurations of match ups.  This is important as an educational tool to understand why we should have ranked-choice voting for all federal elections.  That one piece of federal legislation would change the face of politics overnight.

DFA's statement and more below the fold.

I can't emphasize enough why ranked-choice voting is so important. When ranked-choice voting is used for multiple seat elections (for example electing 10 people from a region) it is called "Proportional voting" or "Proportional Representation voting." When only one candidate will be nominated in a primary or elected in a general election then ranked-choice voting is often called Instant Runoff Voting(IRV).

Only by having ranked-choice voting or Instant Runnoff Voting can we get out from under the main tool that the moneied intersts use to keep conrol of both the Democrat and Republican parties: the wasted vote syndrome.  As long as we are forced to feel that voting our conscience is a wasted vote, we are forced to make the choice between who we actually prefer and who we prefer from among the leading horse race candidates, i.e., the least worst of those with the most money.

In other words, the wasted vote syndrome is the primary tool used by the plutocrats who have perverted American democracy into a two-party dictatorship by infitrating both parties and turning them into parodies of democracy where major constituencies, such as progressives, are left voiceless in the Democrat partiy.

Polls like this show over and over that the progressive Democrats want progressive leadership, but are forced to put up with the less progressive candidates.

That's my soap box. Here's the info on DFA and the poll.

Full results:
Candidate - % - Votes
Representative Dennis Kucinich 31.97% 49,364  
Former Vice President Al Gore 24.77% 38,242  
Former Senator John Edwards 15.6% 24,078  
Senator Barack Obama 13.86% 21,403  
Senator Hillary Clinton 4.21% 6,504  
Governor Bill Richardson 4.09% 6,309  
Other 2.05% 3,171  
Senator Christopher Dodd 1.56% 2,415  
Senator Joe Biden 1.12% 1,723  
Former Senator Mike Gravel 0.77% 1,182  

What is Democracy for America?
Inspired by the presidential campaign of Howard Dean, Democracy for America (DFA) is a political action committee dedicated to supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government—from school board to the presidency. DFA fights against the influence of the far right-wing and their radical, divisive policies and the selfish special interests that for too long have dominated our politics.

DFA has a long-term goal to rebuild the Democratic Party from the bottom up—it will take time, but we must start building a base now for the future.

Here's DFA's story about the poll:

The Results Are In
The results are in. I want to thank you for sending a loud and clear message to the business-as-usual Washington pundits. You have made it clear that the Democratic Presidential Primary is far more competitive than beltway insiders would have you believe.

With over 150,000 votes cast, the DFA Pulse Poll is the largest internet poll to date in the 2008 primary.

The political pundits and beltway Democrats have been claiming that the primaries are already over, but 95% of the votes cast prove they are wrong.

Progressive activists want clear positions on Iraq and Iran. They're concerned with the power of special interest money in elections, and they want straight talk on issues such as funding social security and presidential power. DFA members want a Presidential candidate who will fight for progressive values and are looking for the candidates who are committed to changing the way politics is conducted in America.

Take a look for yourself. Check out the interactive results now:
http://DemocracyforAmerica.com/...

We've heard from many of the candidates directly over the last three weeks.

Senator Barack Obama challenged DFA members to take the country forward in a new direction. Senator John Edwards demanded that as a DFA member himself, it is our time to take action together.

Governor Bill Richardson stood up for our brave men and women fighting for our country and pledged to bring every single troop home starting his first day in office. Senator Chris Dodd demanded we stop the Bush administration's abuse of power now and not wait for elections in 2008.

But no one worked harder to win your support then Congressman Dennis Kucinich. He made his progressive record on Iraq, universal health care, and the patriot act clear. He didn't just ask for your vote, he worked for the votes of your friends and neighbors. He asked his supporters to join DFA and vote to make sure you heard his message. He shot videos, issued press releases, and met with local DFA leaders and members all over the country to try and get your vote. And it worked.

Congressman Kucinich did not get the 66% required to earn the DFA Presidential Endorsement, but he did win our internet poll with an astounding 49,000 votes. Congratulations to Congressman Kucinich for working to win.
Check out the complete interactive results:
http://DemocracyforAmerica.com/...

For more analysis check out these posts from DFA staff:

Pulse Poll: Counting votes and Fake votes
By DFA Technology Director, Tim Watson
http://www.BlogforAmerica.com/...

The Power of the Draft Gore Movement
By DFA Political Director, Charles Chamberlain
http://www.BlogforAmerica.com/...

Organizers and the DFA Link Community: How they voted
By DFA Field Coordinator, Ilya Sheyman
http://www.blogforamerica.com/...

No candidate earned more than 66% needed to win the DFA Presidential Endorsement. However, if you haven't gotten involved in the campaign of your favorite candidate yet, please consider joining the first place campaign in your state.

This election is too important to sit on the side lines. No matter what candidate you support, please take action today.

Published on: November 06, 2007

•  Tips

  by Gregory Wonderwheel on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:14:21 AM PDT

  •  thanks for not slamming other candidates.

    by lorelynn on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:20:28 AM PDT

    •  You're welcome.

      It is hard not to slam Hillary every chance I get. ;-)

      by Gregory Wonderwheel on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 09:01:23 AM PDT

•  I love Dennis. Keep up the Kucinimentum!

  Especially after yesterday.

  by lorelynn on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:19:59 AM PDT

•  Great quote from Kucinich today:

  "In Washington, the truth is an unidentified flying object. And it's time that someone stood for the truth. The American people demand nothing less."

  http://rawstory.com/...

  by Boston Boomer on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:26:31 AM PDT

  •  That's great! thanks

    Yes, the truth is a UFO.

    It was clear from Russert's approach that he was just interested in dinging and dissing Kucinich and not asking a serious question, other wise he would have also asked Richardson about his promotion of the UFO museum in New Mexico, and would have followed up the question with another question asking about what it was that Kucinich was calling a UFO? Anyone honest enough not to deny seeing something unidentified in the sky is a person honest enough to be president in my book. I don't want a president who is afraid to report what he or she sees.

    by Gregory Wonderwheel on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:49:14 AM PDT

•  Whole lot of politics going on

  I received DFA email "invitations" from Dodd, Kucinich, Biden, Edwards and Richardson with their unremovable picture in slot #1, #2 and #3 empty so I could fill them in with my choices.  The final poll results speak more about politicizing than accuracy.

  by JFinNe on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:28:16 AM PDT

  •  That's a weird anlaysis.

    What do you mean by "politicizing"? Do you mean campaigning? Isn't politics all about "politicizing"? Isn't that what campaigning is about?

    As I see it, the poll accurately shows the progressive constituency within the Democrat Party. That is its accuracy. It doesn't show what the primary will be because since we don't have IRV many if not most people will vote according to the wasted vote syndrome since they only have one vote and not ranked choices.

    by Gregory Wonderwheel on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:54:31 AM PDT

•  I think Kucinich won DFA ....

  Because the other candidates did not e-mail their supporters to participate in the DFA poll,  whereas Kucinich supporters got very activated to--because of the impeachment speech.

  The DFA poll was open to non DFA members.  

  The first week---Edwards was winning and Al Gore.

  It just shows Kucinich has organized well to win this poll but does not reflect the DFA members preference.

  I would believe the first week results as it reflects Daily Kos polls too.

  by timber on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:30:17 AM PDT

  •  Yes, Kucinich worked for it. So?

    That is why the DFA announcement said, "Congratulations to Congressman Kucinich for working to win."  

    Since when is demonstrating an ability to run a campaign a negative attribute?

    by Gregory Wonderwheel on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:50:28 AM PDT

    •  I just dont want DFA to be labelled

      Looney extreme liberal left

      by timber on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 07:08:57 PM PDT

•  absurd threshold for endorsement

  with 9 people receiving votes the chance that one might have received 66% is virtually nil.

  Hopefully there will be a DFA endorsement later if the field thins.

  by Shahryar on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:30:17 AM PDT

•  Althought there is NO doubt that the DFA....

  ...poll is inaccurate and totally unscientific (much like the straw polls here at DailyKos) it does reflect a general trend of great discontent with the current Democratic leadership and the desire for some backbone. Most Democrats, when it comes to purely issues (and not on looks or electibility,etc.) agree with Dennis Kucinich, so it not too surprising that he would get some upward momentum, especially from the more progressive elements of the Democratic Party that would vote on the DFA poll.

  I agree with what the DFA said regarding the poll:

  The political pundits and beltway Democrats have been claiming that the primaries are already over, but 95% of the votes cast prove they are wrong.

  The accuracy of Kucinich's support might be up for debate, but the desire for some progressive leadership and a competitive nomination process should not be denied.

  by lams712 on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 08:47:26 AM PDT

  •  Well, your premise of no doubt is not shared.

    I suppose by saying "there is no doubt the poll is inaccurate" you are trying to be nice. But saying so is not a factual statement. The poll is 100% accurate in representing the results of those 150,000 or so people who completed the poll.  

    I think what you shoulda-coulda-woulda said is that that is no doubt the poll is not an accurate reflection of ______ (fill in the blank) For example:
    "not an accurate reflection of all the Democrats"
    "not an accurate reflection of what would happen if the election were today."
    "not an accurate reflection of the population at large."

    But it is an accurate reflection of progressive Democrats who are tuned into the DFA either as members or through their candidate's campaigns.

    by Gregory Wonderwheel on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 09:00:09 AM PDT

    •  true...

      ...I was actually trying to not get my hopes too high.

      I was trying to say that whatever the true measure of Kucinich's support was, especially in light of so many other commenters downplaying the numbers, that these results do reflect some REAL trends with regards to progressive values and the desire for standing up to the current administration.

      by lams712 on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 09:09:59 AM PDT

      •  I agree

        by Gregory Wonderwheel on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 01:12:18 PM PDT

•  Dennis

  I always match up with Kucinich when I take those Web match the candidate things. Not to mention, I love him. If everyone who said they liked him but he couldn't win actually voted for him, he would win.

  Honestly though GW, how do you think he would do in a general election?

  by OLinda on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 09:03:30 AM PDT

  •  Assuming that the GOP

    puts up Giuliani, Romney, or Grandpa Fred, I think Kucinich would do fine.

    by little liberal on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 09:23:58 AM PDT

  •  How he would do? I honestly think he'd do well

    If he was nominated then he would be such a different candidate that I think many voters who never voted would actually stand up and notice.

    The question is how many conservative Democrats would actually vote Republican. I believe he would win the usual swing independents but would have more trouble with the conservative Democrats who don't want any change in Washington.

    The interesting question is that progressive Democrats can sometimes do better against Republicans than a centrist Democrat because the difference is greater and swing voters will say if there isn't much difference then they vote Republican especially if a known name.

    2004 showed the result of a centrist Democrat (Kerry) running who wouldn't campaign against the actual bad record of the Republican (Bush) or his war.

    by Gregory Wonderwheel on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 01:18:43 PM PDT

•  A measure of bloggers total irrelevance.

  Kucinich wins. Hoo Ray. And I've seen three or four diaries about this.  

  by otto vb vs on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 09:45:14 AM PDT

  •  If bloggers are soooo irrelevant...

    ...then maybe you should STOP blogging!!!!!

    by lams712 on Wed Nov 07, 2007 at 10:41:52 AM PDT