Everybody’s making such a fuss over Dennis Kucinich throwing some support behind Barack Obama in Iowa, but, based on dramatically dismal sales for Kucinich’s new autobiography, The Courage to Survive, it would appear that it’s all much ado about nothing. Almost literally.

“I’ve been exceptionally disappointed in the man,” Michael Viner, chief executive of Phoenix Books, tells the Washington Post. After printing 20,000 copies and spending over $100,000 on promotion, he told the publication, the book has only sold 500 copies in two months.

“It’s like we made a campaign contribution,” Viner is quoted as saying. “He left us holding a very large bag.” Viner complained that Kucinich has refused to promote the book, and also shared that Kucinich submitted a cover designed by his wife, Elizabeth, with a tabloid typeface that was not of publishable quality.

Kucinich blames the situation on a contract dispute. He believes he isn’t getting a fair financial deal, but he also says he believes the book could still be a bestseller.