Reply #35: Kucinich serves an invaluable purpose by simply running

[Ian_rd]

His strong (and true) statements force the other Democrats to address issues that they could normally avoid. They can't stand by while Kucinich earns points from the base on statements about NAFTA, the war, etc. and stick to their shallow focus-tested bullshit. They are forced to co-opt some of his support with similar statements and hopefully promises. Kucinich pushes issues onto the mainstream candidates. His candidacy is vital, even given that he is an extreme underdog.

In Armed Madhouse, Greg Palast theorizes that the New Deal was not a product of FDR as much as it was a product of FDR co-opting the platform of Hewie Long, who pushed issues from the left - issues that had a great deal of popular support. And Long, of course, was never president.