[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

It's official: Maverick Congressman Dennis Kucinich has dropped out of the Democratic Presidential race.

Though my politics don't square with his, I've always admired Kucinich since my days working in Congress. He's a scrapper and not afraid to put new ideas on the table, no matter how unpopular. His run, in this cycle as well as the last cycle, always has been quixotic. But this year he was so AWOL from his Congressional district that he attracted some serious primary opposition. One opponent even sent a "Welcome Home" gift basket to his house after one of his campaign swings. Kucinich was not amused.

I should also note that Kucinich was the only proponent of single-payer health care in the Presidential race. So much for that becoming a reality anytime soon.