AUDIO - OH-10: Paul Hackett Endorses Challenger Rosemary Palmer, Says Kucinich Preferred Schmidt in OH-2

Earlier today, Iraq vet and wildly popular 2005 Congressional candidate Paul Hackett (D-Indian Hill) endorsed challenger Rosemary Palmer (D-Cleveland) against incumbent (and persistent Presidential contender) Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Cleveland) in Ohio's heavily Democratic 1oth Congressional District. Palmer co-founded the nonprofit anti-war group Families of the Fallen for Change with her husband, Paul Schroeder, after the death of her son Marine Lance Corporal Edward “Augie” Schroeder in Iraq in August 2005. In conjunction with Hackett's endorsement, Palmer announced her plan to reform the Veterans Administration in order to provide better care for returning veterans.

According to Jerid at BSB and reporter Stephen Koff on the Cleveland Plain Dealer blog Openers, Hackett said during the conference call today that Rep. Kucinich called him on the day that Hackett won the Democratic primary for the 2005 special election in the 2nd Congressional District and told Hackett that Kucinich would prefer ultra-conservative Jean Schmidt (R-Loveland) to win the election (as she subsequently did). Hackett said that Kucinich called Hackett a "Democrat in Name Only" and complained about his military service in Iraq.

Listen to the conference call here.