Send In the Clown

Every campaign season needs to have its comic relief:

U.S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich is running for president – yes -- of the United States.

He’ll make it official Tuesday from Cleveland City Hall, the site of his political birth – and his biggest public embarrassment.

Kucinich, who was easily re-elected to Congress in last month, ran unsuccessfully for president in the 2004 presidential primary. He was among the last to drop out despite winning only a handful of delegates.

Although Democratic Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton are sucking up media attention, Kucinich is sure to grab some because he becomes only the second Democrat to officially declare his presidential bid. Iowa’s outgoing governor Tom Vilsack announced earlier this month that wants to live in the White House.

Kucinich, who began his political career as a city councilman in 1970 and later watched the city slide into default as mayor, has earned a national reputation for his anti-war stance and a proposal to create a cabinet level department of peace.

Hopefully the 2008 Dem field will be just as entertaining as the 2004 field (remember the 7 dwarfs?).