Dee DeQuattro: Pulse on Politics - Fighting Words

Dee DeQuattro

The Democrats win literally this week as they responded the Republican Party’s challenge to a new television ad featuring Gina Raimondo and Jack Reed. The Board of Elections decided in favor of the Democrats saying that the ad is not a violation of federal campaign finance law.

Jack and Gin-a

Both parties brought in the big guns, hiring lawyers from Washington D.C. to appear at the hearing on Wednesday. The Republicans argued that ad was clearly a Raimondo ad while the Democrats maintained it was for both Reed and Raimondo.

Ultimately each member of the 4 person board sided with the Democrats and now the Rhode Island Republican Party can appeal of let the decision lie.

Meanwhile, the ad has brought some headaches to the Democrats as it has been a point of discussion in the local media. Some asking, even if it is legal… is it fair?

Governors, and Secretaries, and Mayors, oh my!

Raimondo and her opponent Allan Fung both had big endorsements and announcements this week. Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he will run ads to support Raimondo and Politico is reporting that Hillary Clinton is coming to town on October 24 to stump for her. This is no small deal. Clinton is hugely popular in Rhode Island in 2008 she won the presidential primary with 58.4% of the vote to Obama’s 40.4%.

On the Republican side, Fung announced the visit of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and also a fundraiser next week headlined by former presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

---

Top cops flip-flop

Raimondo also got support from across party lines as former Colonel of the State Police and former candidate for Congress Brendan Doherty endorsed her campaign. Meanwhile the State Police Union has endorsed Fung. This situation is a little fishy since it seems unlikely that either candidate was out trying to solicit Doherty for an endorsement. For Doherty to cross party lines like this it either needs to be something personal between he and Fung or he is gunning for his next state gig. Who knows? Maybe he wants to head up the Emergency Management Agency?

...and in this corner

In the Providence Mayoral Race Buddy Cianci announced his own big guns as he revealed a list of city councilors and state representatives who are supporting his candidacy.

Meanwhile Elorza took jabs at Cianci when he revealed his plan to make the mayors office more “ethical.” Do you think he might have been suggesting that Cianci is not ethical?

Elorza also reiterated his pledge to not accept campaign contributions from city employees after Cianci took heat for taking money from city workers earlier this week. 

Against the ropes

Cianci got a little heated when pressed about that pledge to not take money from city employees but you got to give it to the former mayor, he always has an answer. Cianci said he would not take contributions from city employees if he were mayor but as a private citizen he welcomes the support of the city employees. Cianci also responded to reporter inquiries that he has taken money from a man under indictment, a claim which he says is simply not true.

Gloves come off

Cianci turned around the conversation questioning Elorza and his supporters. Cianci called Elorza out for having Cicilline headline a fundraiser saying he owns the building where Vault Lounge is housed. He also questioned Elorza getting support from the owner of that same club. The club was the recent scene of a Providence stabbing.

---

Rookies need not apply

Meanwhile, candidate for General Treasurer Ernie Almonte has released his first set of television ads this week and while promoting his own assets and skills, the commercial takes a slight jab at his opponent Seth Magaziner. The race has centered largely around who is more experienced for the office and Almonte has pointed to his own experience and what he says is Magaziner’s lack of experience. The ad, without mentioning Magaziner, makes the remark “Treasurer isn’t an entry level job.” Clearly, a jab at Magaziner.


Picking nits

In the Attorney General’s race the Democratic Party is doing the dirty work so the Peter Kilmartin Campaign doesn’t have to. The Democrat’s filed an ethics complaint against Kilmartin’s Republican opponent Dawson Hodgson saying Hodgson failed to disclose his partial ownership in his family’s farm land in his ethics report.

The funny thing here is only in the race for Attorney General would anyone even pay attention to such an obscure ethics violation. And this is probably one of the top reasons people don’t pay attention to the Attorney General’s race, the issues can be real snoozers.

A seat to be named later

Hodgson swung back at the allegation calling it an attempt to distract from Kilmartin’s own ethics violations. Hodgosn claimed Kilmartin awarded state legal contracts to a sitting state senator in violation of state ethics rules. He did not reveal the name of the senator.

Only 23 more stumping days left until Election Day

That’s all for now, see you next week. The countdown is on 24 days until the primary. If you are looking for something to do this weekend, swing by the Scituate Art Festival. I will be there on Sunday all day working a booth for Operation Stand Down RI. Stop by and say hi!

---

---

More WBOB Reads

• Cianci Fires Back at Elorza on Campaign Contribution Claims
  
• Almonte Calls on Magaziner to Be Transparent on Finances
  
• Schaper: Connecticut's Democratic Governor in Big Trouble
  
• Cianci Unveils Plans for Allens Avenue Waterfront