Interview: Anthony Gemma Talks Campaign Strategy, the Issues & Democratic Values
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
He’s pro-life, supports a balanced budget amendment and has rarely voted in Democratic primaries during his adult life, but Anthony Gemma believes he’s the only person that can prevent one of the most liberal Congressional districts in the country from being represented by a Republican in 2013.
Gemma, who finished second a four-way Democratic primary in 2010, has returned to challenge Congressman David Cicilline, whose dismal approval numbers have led Gemma to make what he calls a “strategic decision” to focus only on first-time Republican candidate Brendan Doherty.
“I respect that I have a primary,” Gemma said Tuesday evening. “But the numbers don’t lie. This race is between me and Brendan Doherty.”
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That would be news to the incumbent Cicilline, whose campaign says it has no plans to exit the race. The Congressman has faced severe scrutiny for his handling of Providence’s finances during his time as Mayor, so much so that he apologized last week for stating the city was in “excellent financial condition” during the 2010 campaign.
That criticism is nothing new, of course. Gemma, David Segal, Bill Lynch and later, John Loughlin—Cicilline’s other challengers in 2010— all took the Congressman to task over Providence during the last campaign. But Cicilline, by far the most polished candidate in that race, was able to significantly outraise his opponents and leverage his standing as the endorsed Democrat to win the seat previously held by Patrick Kennedy.
A Targeted Campaign
But while there is a hint of an “I told you so” mentality in the challenger, Gemma believes the 2012 race will be more about his evolution as a candidate than Cicilline’s troubles in the capital city. Gemma, who said he’ll spend “whatever it takes” to keep the seat Democratic, admits that he made rookie mistakes during his first effort and said he intends to run a more “targeted” campaign this time around.
That begins with a restructuring of his campaign staff. Gemma said he intends to surround himself with an almost entirely different group of people during his campaign, noting that veteran political insider Ray Rickman—who consulted for Gemma in 2010— will not be part of the team this year.
“I’ve learned a lot,” Gemma said. “I understand the ground game now. I understand how to establish a staff and an organization. I understand issues a lot more. I have a base now and I’ll be a lot more targeted.”
That learning curve includes his handling of the media. Following his campaign announcement, he departed without taking questions from the press, which he says was part of his strategy. He said he plans to hold press conferences and be open with reporters during his campaign, but also criticized the media for asking too many “gotcha” questions.
“I'd love for the media to be part of the solution but I feel like they are often part of the problem,” he said.
On the Issues
But in a district that President Obama won with 65 percent of the vote in 2010, can a moderate Democrat who, during his campaign announcement, took a potshot at the public employee pension his Republican opponent is earning, actually convince liberal voters to support his candidacy?
Gemma, who labels himself as “pro labor when labor is good for Rhode Island and pro business when business is good Rhode Island,” has taken up emphasizing the fact that he is a true Democrat despite taking a more conservative stance on several issues.
On his voting record: “If you think about it, 50,000 people vote in the primary. Are [those who don’t vote] any less patriotic? No. I chose to get involved in the process and I want to save this seat for the Democratic Party.”
On abortion: “I’m personally pro-life, but I’m also a lawyer and will uphold the law. I would be a zealous advocate for women’s rights.”
On a balanced budget amendment: “I’m going to be a deficit hawk. I support a balanced budget amendment. We're on a crash course and we cannot have that going forward. We have to think of different ways to get things done.”
On the Bush tax cuts: “I believe the majority of the tax cuts should be sunsetted except for [those earning less than $250,000] and the child care tax credit.”
On right to work: “That’s a state issue.”
Endorsements
Gemma said he expects to roll out another version of a plan he claims will create 10,000 jobs in Rhode Island within five years through public and private partnerships. He said his proposal could work even if there is Congressional gridlock in Washington or he is a first-term Congressman in the minority Party.
“We must create jobs. Jobs is the number one issue,” Gemma said. “I’m the only one who can create jobs, who has created jobs and who will create jobs. It’s about being innovative and thinking outside the box. That’s what the ‘New Idea’ is all about.”
But he also understands he’s likely going to have to make his case to voters without much support from established Democrats. Three Providence City Council members—Nick Narducci, Wilbur Jennings and Davian Sanchez— have offered their support, but Cicilline has already earned the support of Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and General Treasurer Gina Raimondo, the two most popular politicians in the state.
“I would hope people would have the courage and conviction to back me, but the system isn't built for that,” Gemma said. “I believe we're going to get Democrats along the way.”
