RI-Governor: Lincoln Chafee Is Poll Rich, Cash Poor

Posted By Josh Goodman | November 11, 2009

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Commented January 12, 2010

The only move forward is to protect the economy and people of Rhode Island in every way possible. Th...

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To the extent that developments in the Rhode Island governor's race generate buzz, a poll showing independent Lincoln Chafee leading Democratic and Republican competition is generating buzz.

With State Treasurer Frank Caprio as the Democratic nominee, the Chafee-funded poll showed the former U.S. senator with a two-point edge. With Attorney General Patrick Lynch as the Democratic nominee, his advantage ballooned to 13 points.

But, there's a reason to doubt whether Chafee truly is the frontrunner: money. From the Providence Journal:

But he still trails Caprio and Lynch by wide margins in dollars in his campaign account, having added $120,210 in the three months that ended on Sept. 30. That included a new $50,000 personal loan. Lynch raised $112,653 during the same period. Caprio raised $200,127, but only netted $135,377 after returning $64,750 amid Journal inquiries about campaign dollars he received from people aligned with out-of-state firms that had sought, and in some cases won, work from his office. At the end of the quarter, Chafee had $200,122 left, Lynch, $562,167 and Caprio, $1.504 million.

Independents, of course, miss out on party-supported fundraising infrastructure. What's more, one of the lessons out of the New York-23 congressional race is that in the current political climate moderates will struggle to raise money (hence Dede Scozzafava's fundraising problems). As an independent and a moderate, Chafee seems destined to be outspent by the Democratic nominee.

Josh Goodman

Josh Goodman is a staff writer for GOVERNING and the lead author of the Politics blog.

E-mail: jgoodman@governing.com

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Todd Giroux www.rigovernor2010.com | Commented January 12, 2010 The only move forward is to protect the economy and people of Rhode Island in every way possible. The new slate of Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and Treasurer must be aligned and voted into office on one promise to RI Voters regardless of party .. To enforce and protect The Sovereign Rights of our State Constitution in immediate action upon election to stay judgements and claw back homes for consumer protection to homestead without bankruptcy allowing the toxic assets to truely be put aside and dealt with while people have a roof over their head to rebuild their lives. Real property values will stabilize based upon demand. Now is the time to re-establish the value of our community in what we do for our own during this extra extra un-ordinary decline and recession that has existed for almost half a decade. Signed, Todd Giroux
www.rigovernor2010.com

Todd Giroux www.rigovernor2010.com | Commented January 12, 2010 The only move forward is to protect the economy and people of Rhode Island in every way possible. The new slate of Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State and Treasurer must be aligned and voted into office on one promise to RI Voters regardless of party .. To enforce and protect The Sovereign Rights of our State Constitution in immediate action upon election to stay judgements and claw back homes for consumer protection to homestead without bankruptcy allowing the toxic assets to truely be put aside and dealt with while people have a roof over their head to rebuild their lives. Real property values will stabilize based upon demand. Now is the time to re-establish the value of our community in what we do for our own during this extra extra un-ordinary decline and recession that has existed for almost half a decade. Signed, Todd Giroux
www.rigovernor2010.com

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GOVERNING Politics is the new home of staff writer Josh Goodman's Ballot Box blog. If there's a ballot measure in California, a legislative election in Alabama, a mayoral election in Anchorage or a governor's race in Rhode Island, GOVERNING Politics probably is writing about it. We love everything about state and local politics, from polls and campaign ads to policy debates and demographic trends.

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