Dennis Kucinich rallies
Democrats on Maui visit

LAHAINA » Former presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich flew into Hawaii this weekend in a statewide effort to support Democratic Sen. John Kerry in his bid for the White House.

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U.S. Rep. Kucinich, of Ohio, said because he had been to Hawaii several times during his earlier campaign, he was asked by Kerry to make the trip in light of the tight presidential race that could tip the balance in favor of the Democratic ticket.

The Maui County Democratic Party supported the nomination of Kucinich as the presidential nominee, but Kerry won the Democratic presidential nomination statewide.

Kucinich criticized Republican Vice President Dick Cheney as a latecomer to the islands with questionable ties to big corporations, including Halliburton of Dallas.

Cheney served as chief executive officer for Halliburton until 2000, and the firm has received several billion dollars in no-bid contracts to rebuild Iraqi oil fields.

"What about his association with Halliburton? How did Halliburton get those contracts?" Kucinich asked.

Kucinich said the Bush administration led the United States into an unnecessary war and without the proper equipment.

Kucinich said he campaigned in Hawaii as a presidential candidate earlier this year because he felt Hawaii had a special connection with the nation and world.

"It's a little bit late for the vice president to be coming to Hawaii," Kucinich said.

Kucinich arrived Saturday evening on Maui and attended a gathering at the Hui Noeau Visual Art Center in Makawao and a 50th-anniversary party for longtime Democratic supporters Pepito and Alice Ragasa at the Wailuku Community Center along with 1,500 people.

Yesterday, he met with the breakfast crowd at Tasty Crust Restaurant in Wailuku, was interviewed at a couple of radio stations and attended an afternoon Democratic Party of Maui rally with an estimated 500 people.

He flew to the Big Island yesterday afternoon to attend an ILWU labor rally in Hilo and was expected to give more interviews at Honolulu Airport before returning to Ohio last night.

Kucinich plans to attend a political rally in his home city of Cleveland today, featuring Kerry and his supporter, rock singer Bruce Springsteen.

"Kerry is going to win in Ohio, and he's going to win in Hawaii," Kucinich said.