On Politics

While Anthony Gemma used gobs of free media Wednesday on voter fraud allegations that may or may not have credence, incumbent Congressman David Cicilline is hewing to traditional Democratic campaign themes in the run up to next month’s primary for the party’s nomination for U.S. Rep. in the First Congressional District.

In campaign direct mail, Cicilline is courting women voters and taking aim at Gemma’s anti-abortion comments in an interview on a local radio talk show. Gemma called himself “pro-life’’ in an appearance on the Helen Glover program in April.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Barry Hinckley’s campaign says he has made an advertising buy of about $500,000 in broadcast, radio and cable television time.

Republican Hinckley, of Newport, says the advertising will begin Aug. 29 and run through Election Day, Nov. 6, in his campaign to unseat incumbent Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.

Gov. Lincoln Chafee will join such Rhode Island Democratic Party leaders as House Speaker Gordon Fox, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts and General Treasurer Gina Raimondo at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte between September 4th to 6th.

Chafee, a Republican-turned-independent, has been invited to the convention because of his support for President Obama, says Democratic State Chairman Edwin Pacheco.

Chafee is one of 35 national “co-chairs’’ of Obama’s reelection campaign.

UPDATE: Governor Chafee has issued a statement saying that “Caleb will accept responsibility for his actions.” The governor also said that he and his wife “have taken this matter seriously.”

Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s son, Caleb Chafee, has been charged with a count of  violating  Rhode Island’s social host law that bars serving alcohol to people not old enough to meet the state’s 21-year old drinking age.

The carnage of gun violence has marred summer all across America. RIPR Political analyst Scott MacKay says Rhode Island lawmakers can offer a helping hand.

From the Rocky Mountains to New England’s craggy coast, each week brings another desultory report of  lives cut short by murder. You can’t  flick on a television news spot these days without another incident in the blur of senseless killing.

Political professionals know that every election is decided by who turns out at the polls. It is one of the trite truths of campaigns. Well, guess which presidential campaign wins if more voters show up at polls? According to the Washington Post:

Gay rights advocates have a new arena in which to battle for marriage equality: state ballots.

November‘s general election features same-sex marriage referenda on state ballots in Washington State, Maine, Minnesota and Maryland.

While public opinion on marriage equality has been moving rapidly from con to pro, same-sex marriage has never been approved in the more than 30 state elections in which some incarnation of gay marriage has been up for a vote.

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and state Treasurer Gina Raimondo could be headed for a seismic clash in the 2014 Democratic primary for governor. If that happens, who will be in the hunt to suceeed Taveras at City Hall?

To stand a shot, candidates will need to build a strong East Side base while develping crosstown support. Being a solid fundraiser is important, although not necessarily decisive, considering how Taveras was outspent by Steven Costantino in 2010.

I’m taking a few weeks off to get married and absorb the shock of no longer being a single man (just kidding, honey).

Scott will keep the blog rolling, and I’ll be back in time for the closing phase of primaries for CD1 and the General Assembly.