Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?

Friday, September 30, 2011

Dan McGowan, GoLocalProv News Editor

Who’s Hot

Governor Chafee -> First, he was irrelevant, yet still responsible for running the state into the ground. Now he’s got too much power and he’s responsible for running the state into the ground. Which one is it? Say what you want about the Governor’s decisions this week, but the man knows how to play politics and he’s starting to figure out how to drive his agenda without the help of the General Assembly.

David Cicilline -> A surprisingly strong showing in GoLocalProv’s recent poll given the constant criticism he has received since taking office. His negatives are still high (51%), but he appears to be ahead of Republican opponents with just over a year before the election.

Anthony Gemma -> Appears closer and closer to officially throwing his hat in the ring in a Democratic primary against Cicilline. Gemma won’t have the support of the Democratic establishment in the state, but he’s got solid name recognition, money to spend and he knows how to stay on message when it comes to jobs.

John Loughlin -> Loughlin is going to need to step up his fundraising efforts, but the man continues to build his support base as the Republican establishment throws its support in his direction. There is no one hoping for a closed GOP primary more than this former State Rep.

Allan Fung -> Cranston’s finances appear to be back in order after Fitch upgraded its bond rating from negative to stable. Mayor Fung has spent so much time in the news battling his School Committee over Mayoral Academies that folks have largely forgotten that this is a guy who has his city on the right track as so many other communities are failing.

Sheldon Whitehouse -> He’s facing a challenge from a Republican next year, but at this point, voters couldn’t pick Barry Hinckley out of a lineup of one. The Senator had a 30 point lead in the GoLocalProv poll and is expected to report another impressive fundraising quarter, a sign that he will be very difficult to unseat.

Dawson Hodgson -> Kudos to the first-term State Senator from North Kingstown for calling on his colleagues with a pension to not vote on reform measures during the special session. He makes a compelling point. At the very least, it’s a public perception issue. At most, it’s a major conflict of interest.

Who’s Not

Jack Reed -> How come no one has ever vetted the state’s most popular politician on his stance on same-sex marriage? The Senator is catching heat locally this week because he hasn’t signed on to a bill that would rescind the Defense of Marriage Act. And while he can certainly do what he wants (it’s not like he’ll ever be voted out), the problem right now is that he’s unwilling to offer an opinion either way. What’s the hold up, Senator?

Brendan Doherty -> Has a candidate with boatloads of cash and incredibly low unfavorable numbers ever been totally shunned by one party the way Brendan Doherty is being shunned by state Republicans right now? It’s probably too late now, but it’s looking like the former head of the State Police should have decided to run as an Independent.

Angel Taveras -> The Providence Mayor is starting to show some chinks in the armor, according to a recent Brown University poll. He’s still popular and is going to be nearly impossible to unseat three years from now, but the sudden plunge in support has to be a little bit alarming.

Woonsocket Board of Canvassers -> Not the smartest move for a city employee to suggest that a Council candidate not run for office to save the city money. The candidate is Michael Moniz and it sounds like he’s Woonsocket’s version of Chris Young. But that doesn’t mean he should ever be told not to run, especially by someone from the Board of Canvassers.

Providence Schools -> If you’re keeping score at home, the new teachers contract adds five minutes to the school day each year for the next three years. But that two-hour delay on Monday because of a completely-unrelated-to-school business event in downtown essentially removes five minutes from the school day for 24 days. So much for extra learning time.

Bank Of America -> They’re going to start charging $5 per month to use a debit card while they lay off thousands of workers and continue to force evictions on thousands of families across the country. Talk about a public relations nightmare. And what happens if and when, as GoLocalProv first reported months ago, the company leaves downtown Providence?

GTECH -> Another huge corporation that gets all kinds of tax breaks but could care less about actually putting people to work. The company laid dozens of employees in Rhode Island this week because demand for lottery terminals has decreased.

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Comments:

Peter Cassels

6:20am on Friday, September 30, 2011

One of your best weekly views of the political landscape, Dan! I read your column religiously.

Buc Kner

7:03am on Friday, September 30, 2011

Brendan's loss of his big hat, gloves & boots "undressed him" for what he really is..just another politician..and not a good one so far!!
chafee plays the 'dumb card" very well while his minions are tearing you a new one! Angel..its Jercyk..you know it, I know it, DAmico really knows it!..Hinckley..should have stood w/Allen!!

guy smily

8:12am on Friday, September 30, 2011

Loughlin yet again...Dan you forgot to mention that Loughlin pretty much polled in a dead heat with respect to Doherty against Cicilline. That is a telling poll considering Doherty has the advantage of being visible and raising money. Many GOP not impressed at all with Doherty as a candidate.

Dan McGowan

10:38am on Friday, September 30, 2011

Peter, thanks for your kind words. Thanks for reading as always.

Todd B

11:02am on Friday, September 30, 2011

Many of the people I knew that were considering supporting Doherty backed away AFTER they heard him speak. That's a huge problem for Doherty. He still hasn't figured out where he stands on issues like Obamacare. The fact that Doherty isn't well ahead of Loughlin even though Loughlin has been OUT OF THE COUNTRY for several months is also problematic. Agree with him or not, Loughlin is smart and knows the issues. You'd have to think that the joint appearances that occur dozens of times over the course of a campaign will favor Loughlin. In the meantime, Doherty is getting the reputation of an empty suit being supported by the usual entrenched monied interests. The million dollar question is: will Doherty's money be able to replace his lack of substance?

David Pepin

11:45am on Friday, September 30, 2011

Gemma has a reasonable shot at Cicilline if indies, particularly center or right-leaning ones, are attracted to the Democratic primary. The GOP House primary will be the hot one, though...unless Doherty runs as an indie (which he still has time to do; even if the Loughlin camp screams bloody murder, it won't cost him any votes next November). If both parties have primaries, I can't see Gemma winning the Dem nomination.
It's funny how the GOP leadership has made it abundantly clear it doesn't want Doherty, but is likely to go ballistic if he runs indie.

Todd B

12:02pm on Friday, September 30, 2011

@David: I don't think the GOP would go "ballistic" at all if Doherty runs as an independent. Once you get past a few high-profile Republicans that are hanging on (John Holmes, etc.), the vast majority of Republicans are backing Loughlin. Most of Doherty's support comes from Democrats with business interests. Loughlin would almost be guaranteed 33-35% of the vote in a three-way race. The key to victory would be the grassroots getting out the vote--something that would appear to benefit Loughlin over Doherty at this point.

dave davidson

12:03pm on Friday, September 30, 2011

If Gemma continues to come off as a rich kid whiner he'll go down in flames again. He is Rhode Island's version of Al Gore.

Lance Perdue

12:03pm on Friday, September 30, 2011

Gemma has stayed on message with yoga mats, dashboards, and HOPE signs. you know, the things that will really get RI'ers back to work...

Todd B

12:05pm on Friday, September 30, 2011

And by the way, I wouldn't count Gemma out in a primary against Cicilline. Many Democrats are looking for an alternative to Cicilline and Gemma could pull it off if he starts off aggressive with Cicilline. He waited too long in the last election.

Billy Thompson

12:13pm on Friday, September 30, 2011

Politicians who talk about jobs and housing will go up in the polls. Bill Clinton knew about the bread and the butter!

Michael Trenn

6:52pm on Friday, September 30, 2011

I think that independents should vote in a Gemma-Ciccilline primary. Get rid of the Congressmistake, and put up a candidate who at least has worked for a living.

Typical Resident

8:45am on Saturday, October 01, 2011

The Governor is hot?

Cicillini is hot?

Fire whoever writes this column.

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Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not in RI Politics?

Who’s Hot

Who’s Not

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Comments:

Peter Cassels

Buc Kner

guy smily

Dan McGowan

Todd B

David Pepin

Todd B

dave davidson

Lance Perdue

Todd B

Billy Thompson

Michael Trenn

Typical Resident