NEW: Would Taveras Support Fung Over Democratic Opponents?
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Who would Providence Mayor Angel Taveras support in the general election, if he doesn't win the Democratic nomination?
Last fall, Taveras told Buddy Cianci on WPRO that Republican Cranston Mayor Allan Fung was the "second best candidate" in the race. This week, at a meeting of the Rhode Island Association of Democtratic City and Town Chairpersons, Taveras did not say that he would support the Democratic nominee if it is not him -- while Gina Raimondo and Clay Pell said that they would support whoever it is, as reported in the Providence Journal.
"It is rare for a candidate early in a campaign to refuse to commit to support his party’s nominee. Some end up at that point after a contentious primary, but it is odd to voice this opinion before the race has heated up. It sounds like Taveras is keeping the option open of supporting Fung should Taveras lose the Democratic primary while Fung wins the GOP primary," said Darrel West, Vice President at the Brookings Institution. "Most candidates seek to avoid this kind of intra-party rift by pledging to support the party nominee regardless of who wins. That is the safe course early in the primary season."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe Taveras campaign did not respond to request for comment if he would support Fung over a Democratic candidate.
Political Pundits on the Issue
"There is usually a second part to the Taveras response that goes something like 'I intend to win this primary, but of course I will support the Democratic ticket.' Taveras doesn't actually say that he won't support the nominee, which gives him some space to endorse the nominee if he doesn't win," said Jennifer Duffy with The Cook Political Report. "In the event Taveras doesn't win the primary, I would be very surprised if he doesn't ultimately endorse the nominee. He will be under a lot of pressure to do so, and there is no political upside for him not to do it."
Kay Israel, Associate Professor of Communications at Rhode Island College, offered his perspective on the scenario. "Sometimes it's a negotiation ploy, whether that's for political or financial benefit," said Israel. "It gives the impression the candidate stands up for certain principles."
And should Taveras utimately not support the Democratic nominee?
"This is rare, but it does happen. Normally, all candidates are expected to fall in line with the party. Should Mayor Tavaras not endorse the Democratic primary winner, this would signal weakness in the state Democratic Party organization and its ability to keep party candidates in line," said Val Endress, Associate Professor of Communications at RIC.
"In addition, there are both symbolic and practical implications. The bigger the race, the more that symbolism is attached to the endorsement. When a losing candidate endorses the party nominee, it signals that voters, campaign volunteers, and those who contributed money should now switch their allegiances and get behind the party candidate," continued Endress. "Candidates depend upon this support when they’re running in the general election."
Candidates Weigh In
The two GOP candidates' camps sparred over potential party support, and its implications.
“The Mayor has said from the beginning that he will support the Republican nominee for Governor, unlike his opponent, Ken Block, who told the Pawtucket GOP that he would not support the Mayor ‘because there can only be one alpha dog at the top," Unlike Mr. Block, the Mayor has been elected five times as a Republican, has supported numerous Republicans at the city, state, and federal level, like Mitt Romney, and will continue to do so," said Patrick Sweeney, spokesperson for Cranston Mayor Allan Fung's gubernatorial campaign. "Since Mr. Block has voted twice for President Obama and supported Obamacare, it's anyone's guess where his support will go."
GOP candidate Ken Block's campaign manager Jeff Britt said that Block would in fact support the GOP candidate, whoever that is.
"Ken Block has said on a number of occasions that he plans on being the nominee," said Britt. "If he's not, he's said he will support the party nominee."
Britt continued, "Having said that, the fact that Taveras has indicated that he'd be leaning towards Fung as the number two best candidate speaks to a theme that Ken Block points out, which is that Taveras has been supportive of Fung, and Fung's been supportive of Democrats. The questions should be directed towards Fung and his past support of Democrats."
On the Democratic side, Eric Hyers, spokesperson for General Treasurer Gina Raimondo's campaign, called Taveras' refusal to commit support to the Democratic nominee -- if it's not him --as "disappointing."
As for the comments made on Cianci's show last fall, Hyers said, "Mayor Fung is a Republican who opposes raising the minimum wage, is against marriage equality, is a strong supporter of the Supreme Court's decision in Citizens United and opposes the Affordable Care Act. He is a strange second choice for a candidate who wants to be the Democratic nominee for governor. We need a governor who will stand up for working families."
Clay Pell's campaign did not respond to request for comment.
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