Lincoln Chafee - Independent Candidate for Rhode Island Governor

Lincoln Chafee - Indepedent Candidate for Rhode Island Governor

Media: February 2010 Archives

Ban filibuster abuse for good of all

February 26, 2010

POLITICO.com
By: Lincoln D. Chafee 

In the spring of 2005, I was one of the senators who banded together as the Gang of 14 to preserve the filibuster rule. We aimed to prevent the Republican majority from scrapping it on a simple majority vote, the "nuclear option." The seven Republicans in the group agreed to vote against the nuclear option, if and when Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist called for a vote.

The seven Democrats agreed to vote against their party's filibusters, unless "extraordinary circumstances" were in play.

Today, with Republicans in the minority and resorting to the filibuster nonstop, the definition of an extraordinary circumstance is: The Senate is in session.

Knowing what I know now, it's tempting to say I would like to go back in time and sit on my hands while Republicans pulled the trigger on the nuclear option. But to keep faith with the idea that it's always good for opponents to be on speaking terms, I'll say, instead, that it's time for a new bipartisan gang to take charge of the Senate and ban frivolous filibusters.

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Brown University poll shows Chafee is the one to beat

February 24, 2010

RIFuture.org
By, Brian Hull

Yesterday's Brown University poll is showing a significant lead by Lincoln Chafee over the other candidates in each of the general election scenarios.

Chafee: 33.8%; Caprio: 28.3%; Robitaille: 12.1%; Don't Know: 25.8%
 Chafee: 32.9%; Lynch: 17.7%; Robitaille: 13.7%; Don't Know: 35.6%

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Brown University poll shows Chafee in the lead

February 23, 2010

Brown University Media Relations
Contact: Elaine Beebe

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -- A new public opinion survey by Brown University's Taubman Center finds voters have minimal confidence in state leaders to put the state on the right track. The state's economy is "not so good" or "poor" say 94 percent of registered voters; 93 percent described the national economy in the same terms. President Obama's approval rating of "excellent" or "good" among the respondents has dropped to 44 percent from the 53 percent reported in September 2009.

The survey was conducted February 9-12, 2010, by researchers at The A. Alfred Taubman Center for Public Policy and the John Hazen White Public Opinion Laboratory at Brown University. It is based on a statewide random sample of 605 registered voters. Overall, the survey had a margin of error of about plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

The survey found that only 12 percent of registered voters have "a great deal of confidence" or "a good amount" of confidence in state government officials to make the right decisions for the state's future, while 82 percent said they had "just some" or "none at all." Democratic legislators garnered only 18 percent of voters who had "a great deal" or "a good amount" of confidence. Republicans legislators earned just 10 percent. Rhode Island's high unemployment rate and the nation's economic recession could be shattering voters' confidence in public officials to address the state's challenges, according to Marion Orr, the Frederick Lippitt Professor of Public Policy and Political Science and director of the Taubman Center. When asked to describe the state of the nation's economy, 93 percent of registered voters characterized it as "not so good" or "poor." A slightly larger majority, 94 percent, described Rhode Island's economy as "not so good" or "poor."

If the Democratic gubernatorial primary were held today, 30 percent say they would vote for Frank Caprio, 21 percent would support Patrick Lynch, and 47.5 percent say they are undecided. If the general election were held today, Independent gubernatorial candidate Lincoln Chafee would defeat Democrats Caprio or Lynch and Republican John Robitaille. In a general election race against Caprio and Robitaille, Chafee would garner 33.8 percent of the vote, Caprio 28 percent, and Robitaille, 12 percent. If Lynch were the Democrat candidate, the results are similar: 32 percent for Chafee, 17 percent for Lynch, 13 percent for Robitaille.

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Poll says Chafee leads in gov race

By Katherine Gregg

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- General Treasurer Democrat Frank Caprio appears to be leading the state's attorney general, Patrick C. Lynch, among Democratic gubernatorial primary voters.

But at a time when Rhode Island voters seem to have very little confidence in the major political parties, former U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee, running as an independent for governor, could beat either one of them, according to the latest Brown University poll.

If the primary were held today, the poll indicates that Caprio would beat Lynch 30.6 percent to 21.8 percent, with a very large number of voters -- 47.5 percent -- still undecided.

In questions about the November general election, the trend pinpointed by a series of independent polls continues.

If he were matched up against Caprio and Republican John Robitaille, who until recently was Governor Carcieri's communications director, Chafee would lead 33.8 percent, to 28.3 percent for Caprio, 12.1 percent for Robitaille and 25.8 percent undecided.

If Lynch emerged as the Democratic primary victor, Chafee would lead by a wider margin with 32.9 percent of the potential vote, to 17.7 percent for Lynch and 13.7 percent for Robitaille.

"I think the poll shows that Chafee is a trusted name and the voters of Rhode Island realize that he has the courage and conviction to address the issues that are currently plaguing our state," said John "JR" Pagliarini, Chafee's campaign manager. "The voters also know that Senator Chafee is incorruptible and will demand the highest ethical standards in state government. "

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Lincoln Chafee on MSNBC's "Is it time for a third party?"

On Tuesday, February 23rd, Lincoln Chafee appeared on MSNBC to discuss the increasingly popular topic, "Is it time for a third party?" Watch the video right here.

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New York Times Op-Ed By LINCOLN CHAFEE

New York Times Op-Ed
By LINCOLN CHAFEE
Providence, R.I.

"I DO not love Congress," Evan Bayh said last week, announcing that he will leave the Senate in January. I can agree, having served in the Senate from 1999 through 2006, that there are a lot of reasons not to love Congress.

It's a punishing workload even under the best of circumstances. In a typical morning, I might have shifted gears from a hearing on banking deregulation, to a floor vote on prescription drug benefits, to a committee meeting on clean air legislation, then back to the office to meet with constituents about juvenile diabetes and to take a call from the Republican National Senate Committee chiding me about my fund-raising totals.

In every hearing, I wanted to show that I understood the most arcane details of the issue and had intelligent questions to ask. As a senator, you're constantly hoping you don't reveal that you're only human, stubbing your toe in a way that hands your next opponent a devastating 30-second ad to use against you.

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Lincoln Chafee has forged a path of independence and he is now prepared, with your support, to bring his unquestioned integrity, proven record of working together for the common good, and ability to represent our state at the highest levels of business and government to the Governor's Office.

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