poll: Who Should Be Rhode Island’s Next Governor?
Saturday, September 07, 2013
With the surprise announcement by Governor Lincoln Chafee this week that he will not seek re-election in 2014, the race for Governor was re-calibrated.
Instead of a three-way Democratic Primary and the winner facing a likely GOP candidate and Moderate party leader Ken Block, the campaign, as we know it, has changed.
The following factors are now in place:
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST1) While Chafee’s exit may make the decision for many progressives easier in the Democratic primary, as they no longer have to choose between Chafee and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, it does create a strategic opportunity for Gina Raimondo.
Raimondo can use her sizable fundraising advantage to pound Taveras’ record on increased crime and horrible schools. Look for ads on TV and online along the lines of, "If you like what he has done for Providence, he is going to do it to your town.”
As of the last reporting period, Raimondo had 3X the money of Taveras, 8 times Fung, and 27 that of Block.
Raimondo: $2,063,548.54
Taveras: $692,590.12
Fung: $256,498.77
Block: $73,987.53
2) Block is now a factor. With Chafee out of the race, John Chafee moderates will look for a place to go. Block has two choices: he could primary Fung in the GOP column or stay moderate and wait for a battered Democrat to jump into the race.
3) No incumbent means a more vicious race. Before last Wednesday, most of the field was going to run against Chafee and now they must run against one another. Early efforts to define themselves that will quickly transition into “comparisons” against one another.
Of the likely candidates for Governor, who will you vote for?
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