MAYBE FUNG SHOULD FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

Mayor Fung at WBOB

Michael Gardiner

On September 9, 2014 Activist Ken Block and Mayor Allan Fung are announced to square off in the Rhode Island Republican primary. less than two months before the General Election on November 4th.  Fung is considered the political "home team",he has better name recognition and he holds an office,  giving him a presence in front of the pubic and in the news cycle.  Fung would have to be implicated in some major calamity to change that.

Sure, the “Cranston Parking Massacre” has caused some worry about the Mayor's agility and adroitness in avoiding “trap” stories. However  a recent WPRI poll showed he is much better known then “visiting” Ken Block. Fung also was rated favorably or at least fair by the majority of those polled.  Most voters said they didn’t know enough to rate Ken Block.  Parking gate schmarking gate.Fung would have to be indicted or kill someone, to lose that advantage. But accidents do happen..............

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Today (1/13/2014) The Providence Journal and now, Fox News too are reporting that Mayor Allen Fung revealed over the weekend that at the age of 19, he struck and killed another motorist, after falling asleep at the wheel at 9 in the morning.

The dreaded other shoe has dropped.  The one worse story for the Fung campaign that could ruin home field advantage and give his campaign a permanent flat tire, has broken. This is a story that will not go away.

Yes it was a long time ago. Yes, we are told the family of the deceased has been gracious in forgiveness.  Their claims were settled. It’s water under the bridge, long ago. There’s understanding this was an accident or a mistake and there has been a life well lived since.

But the readiness of statewide voters to consider the Mayor has to be affected. The readiness of Republicans to support the Mayor over Ken Block has to be affected. Some who were ready to support the Mayor are not ready any more.

This readiness, the eagerness of voters to support Mayor Fung has to be affected and as the story continues, and it will continue, the damage cannot be repaired. A practical matter, this will chill fundraising and enthusiasm.  This campaign is best ended now so that Republicans can unify behind Ken Block.

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