Democratic Legislators Keeping Clear of Unpopular Raimondo in Campaign
Wednesday, November 02, 2016
Governor Gina Raimondo ranks somewhere on the spectrum between persona non-grata and radio active this election cycle -- even for fellow Democrats in Rhode Island.
It is unusual that candidates running for office would not want the public endorsement of a sitting Governor, but not this year and not this governor. In contrast, in Massachusetts, everyone wants to be seen and campaign with popular Charlie Baker.
In 2012, Raimondo went door-to-door with then-Speaker and now prisoner Gordon Fox on the East side of Providence. Fox was facing a surprisingly difficult challenge from storyteller and children’s book writer Mark Binder.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTNow, legislators are staying clear of Raimondo
Reps on the Record
State Representative Lauren Carson, who is locked in a tough re-election fight with Mike Smith in Newport, told GoLocalProv.com, "No, I haven't walked with her.”
When asked did she ask the Governor to join her walking -- and if not, why -- Carson responded with the following.
"I didn't think of it, really," said Carson. "I had Seth Magaziner come walk with me last weekend. I saw him at an event this summer and he offered to walk with me, and he made good on it. He was a pleasure to campaign with."
“I think Rhode Islanders are looking for honesty, not promises. We keep hearing, 'It's coming, it’s coming,' but the reality is [Raimondo's] halfway through her term -- that doesn't mean if a couple big projects come through she can’t turn it around. But I think it will be tough,” said Val Endress, Professor of Communications at Rhode Island College.
"Have I had the Governor or anyone walk with me? No," said Senator Lou DiPalma. "I do most of my own walking -- I've been to excess of 3000 houses, and that means I had someone with me, they were across the street at a house."
Top Democrats Staying Away
Democratic House Speaker Nick Mattiello has not asked Raimondo to campaign with him in his re-election battle with National Republican Committeeman Steve Frias.
And, two of the leading candidates to be the next Majority Leader in the House, Joe Shekarchi and John Lombardi, have also stayed clear of campaigning with Raimondo.
"I haven't had Raimondo walk with me," said Lombardi.
Shekarchi has not campaigned with Raimondo this cycle either.
Top Democratic officials confirm to GoLocal that rank and file Democrats across the state are getting harsh and highly negative feedback while campaigning door-to-door about Raimondo.
How low are Gina Raimondo’s numbers?
According to private polls, Raimondo’s negatives are in the low-to-mid 60 percent range. The combination of a lackluster economy, the tourism disaster, the failed computer system rollout, the $3.6 million in subsidies to the California developer "slumlord," and the withholding of the 38 Studios investigation documents have all taken their toll. Presently, GoLocal is suing the Governor for the release of the State Police interviews and notes tied to the criminal investigation of 38 Studios.
Polling firm Morning Consult, who ranks all the governors in America, had Raimondo rank as the seventh least popular governor in America in its most recent look. According to their ranking, Raimondo’s disapproval numbers are 53%.
The governors that are less popular than Raimondo include Connecticut’s Dan Malloy, who lost GE to Massachusetts; New Jersey’s Chris Christie who’s is a top Trump supporter and his top administration officials are under trial for BridgeGate; and Michigan’s Governor Rick Snyder whose management was at the helm during the Flint lead poisoning of children.
“My assumption is the candidates just haven't asked for that support in any way -- otherwise I’d think she’d be out there. But her unfavorables don't make her as attractive as some other more popular candidates,” said Endress.
“So I'm assuming that [Raimondo] just hasn't been asked. She's certainly out there doing forums and everything else. I can’t imagine that she wouldn't want to help out her team. It's not happening however. She hasn’t turned around her unfavorables -- yet. We’re still waiting for those numbers,” said Endress.
Related Slideshow: GoLocalProv’s Lawsuit Against Governor Raimondo - October 17, 2016
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