Over in the Corner, NR publisher Jack Fowler spotlights the Roger Sherman Liberty Center, a new outfit aiming to fight the good fight for free-market, limited-government principles in the politically rocky territory of Connecticut.
In neighboring Rhode Island, a new poll reveals another reason for optimism for folks on the right:
Congressman David Cicilline would lose to his Republican opponent by more than 10 points if an election were held today, according to an exclusive WPRI 12 poll that finds many voters are unhappy with the first-term Democrat. The new survey of 300 registered voters in Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District shows Cicilline’s 2010 opponent, former state Rep. John Loughlin, would defeat him 47 percent to 35 percent, with 17 percent undecided. Another Republican, former State Police Col. Brendan Doherty, would beat Cicilline 46 percent to 33 percent, with 20 percent undecided, the poll reveals.
All the traditional caveats apply — it’s early, it’s a small sample, it’s registered voters instead of likely voters (although generally Republican candidates do slightly better among likely voters), and with Obama at the top of the ticket, Rhode Island Democrats should come out in sizable numbers in 2012. But when 57 percent of respondents have a negative opinion of the incumbent, that incumbent has good reason to worry . . .
Cicilline gets a steady stream of bad news due to his former job as Mayor of Providence. While in office he issued a steady stream of glowing reports on the City's fiscal health, now that he's in Congress and there is a new mayor, the truth has come out that the City is bankrupt. They've even given pink slips to every teacher in the city, no one employed by the City of Providence has any clue if they have a job next year or not. The city is way behind on paying its bills.
Basically, the city is in a complete fiscal meltdown and the current administration is blaming it on Cicilline both for political reasons and because, well, its true.
His next opponent should be able to run against both his horrible record in Providence as well as the lousy economy due to Obamanomics.
Downside here is that he may well lose a primary and deep-blue RI will elect a new D.
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