Dee From the Desk: On the Offensive

The election is less than two weeks away and campaigns across the state are in full swing, most of them on the offensive.

Gina Raimondo really knows how to make girl power work for her. First she announces a visit from the largely popular Hillary Clinton and next she manages to get a YouTube video from the White House featuring an endorsement from the First Lady herself, Michelle Obama. Not a bad move for Raimondo, who would be Rhode Island‘s first female governor.

While she is riding the wave of girl power, PAC’s supporting Raimondo have been ratcheting up the Fung attacks. One ad blames Fung for raising taxes in Cranston when he first took office, but as the Providence Journal pointed out it completely ignores the fiscal nightmare Fung inherited when he was elected and the fact that for the other half of his tenure as mayor he hasn’t raised taxes. Another ad from a group under Democratic Governor’s Association takes aim at Fung for not showing “leadership” during the police ticketing scandal, ignoring that Fung refunded people who paid the tickets and replaced the police chief. The attack does hit Fung where it hurts because the police scandal is the biggest tarnish on his record as mayor.

Meanwhile, Fung is taking aim at Raimondo accusing her of mismanagement at Rhode Island Housing. Raimondo is on the board of the organization but has not attended meetings in over a year (she has sent delegates in her place). At the same time Rhode Island Housing is in big trouble with HUD after the Urban League Scandal. RI Housing has been ordered to pay back over $1 million in grant money awarded to the Safe Haven homeless facility (run by the Urban League). Meanwhile, the ramifications at RI Housing are having trickle down effects that could potentially hurt homeless providers who receive money through Rhode Island Housing from HUD, including added red tape. While Raimondo was not involved in the Urban League scandal, the news of the mismanagement at Rhode Island Housing, where she serves on the board, works to her detriment and to Fung’s advantage. Fung is also trying to tie Raimondo to 38 Studios, even though anyone who lived in the state in 2010 knew she was adamantly opposed to the $75 million loan, but hey voters have short memories.

In the race for Congress in the First Congressional District Congressman Cicilline hit the airwaves. His ad features a young marine woman who was diagnosed with cancer and she commends Cicilline for assisting her. There is only one weird thing about the ad, the young lady he helped is from Warwick, the Second Congressional District, and conspicuously absent is Congressman Langevin. It would be interesting to see his thoughts on the ad or if he also played a role in helping the young lady too.

Either way the ad is a good political move for Cicilline since his Republican Opponent, Cormick Lynch, is a young marine himself who has been rallying veterans behind his candidacy. Cicilline’s ad effectively attacks Lynch’s base.

The General Treasurer’s race is getting a little messy too with both candidates going after each other. Democrat Seth Magaziner pointing at Independent Ernie Almonte as a political insider and Almonte pointing at Magaziner, saying he lacks the experience needed for the office. Well, that’s nice but let’s be real nobody thinks of Almonte as a political insider. Magaziner is actually airing an ad featuring Bill Clinton at the same time, this seems a little more inside then working as the State Auditor General. Working for the state versus chumming around with Bill Clinton, what do you think looks more politically inside to the general public? Truth be told, most people probably don’t view either of the candidates as political insiders. Meanwhile, Almonte’s questions about Magaziner’s experience are certainly being lost on the general public since most people don’t understand what exactly the General Treasurer even does nevermind the experience necessary for the office.

In Battleground Providence the attacks against former Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci are continuing as Cianci is continuing to roll out his own plans. This week we discover that Republican Dan Harrop is actually writing checks to Democrat Jorge Elorza. Additionally, Myrth Yorke has taken to the airwaves to slam Cianci. Meanwhile, Cianci has responded to the attacks dismissing them and ultimately staying focused on his message that “only he can fix Providence.” While attacks may be effective, the skeletons in Cianci’s closet are no secret to anyone. The anti-Cianci crowd needs to be careful because right now it looks like everyone is teaming up against one guy and nobody likes to watch an unfair race. Not to mention the constant attacks are keeping Cianci in the news and it goes to the old mantra “all news is good news.” While the attacks are coming from multiple directions Cianci is continuing to spread his own message asking people to look at Providence today and compare it to the time he was mayor. In less than two weeks we will know if the voters of Providence buy into Cianci’s visions or believe the attacks. 

Follow me on twitter @deedequattro