Reply #4: why run a centrist?

[reggie the dog]

From what I understand the president's approval is in the shitter as is the image of the Republican party. This is not the time to run a centrist. This is the time to run a leftist like Kucinich. He is, was, has been, anti patriot act and anti-war. Why run with the center when a true progressive leftist could easily win against the legacy of W and the Republicans? Here in France the Socialists just tried a similar thing when they ran Ms. Royal. She was a centrist and most people that "voted" for her just voted Royal by default to vote against Sarkozy. She came off as lacking conviction by trying to sit on the fence, Sarkozy ran away with the election by picking a side (sadly the right) and going for it all. When will the left do that again? Are we to forever live in the shadow of the centrists Blair and Bill Clinton?