Today Cleveland Free Press editor Michael Kwiatkowski had the chance to conduct some interviews. The first is with a member of a Voter Protection group outside Eastman Branch Cleveleand Public Library. The second is with Gary Kucinich, brother of Dennis who ran for president this year and is running for re-election to his 10th Congressional District House seat.

Voter Protection Interview:

Have you had any problems with voting?

We really haven’t had any problems… a few people we’ve had to redirect to the right polling place and that was about it.

Has turnout increased a great deal from 2000, or do you feel it’s about the same?

It’s increased a lot.

About how much would you say [it’s increased]?

Well, they say right now, voters are coming out and saying what they normally have today has already voted [as of 3:00PM].

Have there been any challengers of voter registration?

We’ve only had one challenger here, and she hasn’t had to challenge anybody.

I’ve noticed in the papers today about how [the courts have allowed challenges to disputed registrations].

We've only had one democratic challenger, no republican challenger showed up here.

Final question, there’s been a lot of talk about security at the polls today. Have you had any problems or do you …feel safe?

We’re fine.

Gary Kucinich Interview:

Dennis’ Republican challenger, Ed Herman, has been very vocal in his criticism of the Congressman’s campaign. Given the fact that eleven states’ Democratic Parties—including Ohio’s—have adopted his Department of Peace for their platforms, how well does such criticism stand up?

Well I don’t think Dennis has ever even entertained that as being a real positive thought. He’s never given that any thought in terms of any criticisms by any of his opponents to his initiatives as a Congressman. As for his Department of Peace initiative, I think it’s a wonderful idea. We’re too torn as a nation on the concept of war. And we have to start resolving our conflicts by talking about an alternative to war. And I think that Dennis’ Department of Peace idea is a great concept and people are starting to look at it seriously. Like you said, eleven other states are supporting it.

That’s one fifth of the nation. So basically, in response to what critics have said about the campaign being a waste of time, can you point to the Department of Peace as not being as big a waste of time as critics would like to think?

Some people are going to find things to criticize no matter what, but if you believe as Dennis does and what he’s doing, regardless of who’s going to criticize whatever if you have—if you believe yourself in what he’s doing, that’s all that really matters.

We have some people in from Russia visiting, and I think it demonstrates a vast amount of interest in the outcome of this election. Now given that Russia’s got pretty big concerns about what’s going on in their country, do you think they’re worried about who’s going to be better able to focus on terrorism?

I think that the whole international community is concerned about this election, and the eyes of the world are literally on the United States at this time, and that is why you’ll see people from throughout the world visiting and focusing in on this election visiting this country and focusing on the results of this election tonight.

If Bush gets another four years do feel there’s going to be massive protests on a bigger scale than the 2000 elections, or do you feel that Kerry’s going to take it?

I think that we have to wait and see what happens; I think that Kerry is going to win, so I don’t think that’s going to happen.