The Hiller Instinct: First Date, First Lady?

Their date ended with a kiss. It began last month at a forum, when Kucinich, a twice-divorced bachelor, joked about a national search to find him a first lady.

Gina Marie Santore, Contest Winner
"I thought it would be a great opportunity to meet a presidential contender. I think Dennis is right on many of the issues."

James Pindell, PoliticsNH.com
"She squeaked it out with 51.4 percent of the vote, so..."

Andy Hiller
"Did you get the recount in Florida on that?"

James Pindell
"The whole thing was a very above board, incredible (laughs)."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D) Presidential Candidate
"Good morning."

Kucinich took Santore to breakfast in a New Hampshire hotel. The pair spent about an hour together, talking mostly about policy:

Andy Hiller
"Do you endorse him?"

Gina Marie Santore
"Oh, absolutely!"

Andy Hiller
"How would you compare this endorsement to Al Gore's?"

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D)
"I think it's much more significant and based on actual discussion."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D)
"I'm totally respectful of Gina Marie's space here."

Still, both were impressed during the breakfast…

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D)
"She's so smart and so knowledgeable about so many things that relate to the practical concerns that people have."

Andy Hiller
"And did you find him as intelligent as he found you?"

Gina Marie Santore
"Absolutely."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D)
"This was a great meeting and I look forward to being in touch with you about the things that we talked about."

Gina Marie Santore
"There's romance in some of these issues."