President Barack Obama has made clear he isn’t wading into the three-way governor’s race in Rhode Island, but Lincoln Chafee’s latest ad suggests otherwise.
Just a day after Democratic nominee Frank Caprio, the state treasurer, told a local radio station Obama could take his endorsement and “shove it,” Chafee is embracing the president, even though he doesn’t have his official backing.
Just a day after Democratic nominee Frank Caprio, the state treasurer, told a local radio station Obama could take his endorsement and “shove it,” Chafee is embracing the president, even though he doesn’t have his official backing.
The 30-second spot opens with footage from a March 2008 rally when Chafee, a former Republican senator who lost his reelection bid in 2006, chose to spurn his former party and endorse Obama for president.
“Real change isn’t voting for George Bush’s war in Iraq. I knew what it was. Lincoln Chafee knew what it was,” says Obama in the clip, as “Change We Can Believe In” signs wave across the screen.
Chafee's campaign said the timing of the ad was purely accidental, and that the commercial had been in the works for several weeks.
"It was designed as a testimonial," Chafee campaign manager Mike Trainor told POLITICO. "It was entirely coincidental to the president’s visit, which we didn’t know about when we produced the campaign."
Caprio's campaign shot back at the Chafee ad, saying, "This election isn't about Washington insider deals, it's about creating jobs."
Also making a cameo is independent New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has formally endorsed Chafee’s bid and campaigned with him last month.
“His honesty, his integrity and his willingness to stand up, even when it isn’t in his own political interests, tell the truth to the public,” Bloomberg says in the ad.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs reiterated Tuesday that Obama would not be taking a side in the race, citing the president’s “relationship and friendship with former Senator [Chafee].”
Still, the president’s decision not to back Caprio drew sharp criticism from some within his own party. Democratic Governors Association Executive Director Nathan Daschle, whose organization has repeatedly slammed Chafee over his tax proposals both on air and on a website, ChafeesTaxPlan.com.
"While this might not be what the White House intended, the president’s refusal to endorse a fellow Democrat in the worst environment since 1994 sends a bad message to everyone who’s working to get Democrats elected this year,” Daschle said Monday.
Caprio appeared on “The Today Show” Tuesday morning and defended his controversial quip, saying, “These comments are really just reflective of what I've been hearing from the people across the state for the last year.”
The latest Rasmussen Reports poll of the race showed Chafee with a 7-point lead over Caprio, 35 percent to 28 percent, with GOP nominee John Robitaille taking 25 percent. Republican Gov. Don Carcieri is barred by term limits from running again.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44203.html
“Real change isn’t voting for George Bush’s war in Iraq. I knew what it was. Lincoln Chafee knew what it was,” says Obama in the clip, as “Change We Can Believe In” signs wave across the screen.
Chafee's campaign said the timing of the ad was purely accidental, and that the commercial had been in the works for several weeks.
"It was designed as a testimonial," Chafee campaign manager Mike Trainor told POLITICO. "It was entirely coincidental to the president’s visit, which we didn’t know about when we produced the campaign."
Caprio's campaign shot back at the Chafee ad, saying, "This election isn't about Washington insider deals, it's about creating jobs."
Also making a cameo is independent New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has formally endorsed Chafee’s bid and campaigned with him last month.
“His honesty, his integrity and his willingness to stand up, even when it isn’t in his own political interests, tell the truth to the public,” Bloomberg says in the ad.
White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs reiterated Tuesday that Obama would not be taking a side in the race, citing the president’s “relationship and friendship with former Senator [Chafee].”
Still, the president’s decision not to back Caprio drew sharp criticism from some within his own party. Democratic Governors Association Executive Director Nathan Daschle, whose organization has repeatedly slammed Chafee over his tax proposals both on air and on a website, ChafeesTaxPlan.com.
"While this might not be what the White House intended, the president’s refusal to endorse a fellow Democrat in the worst environment since 1994 sends a bad message to everyone who’s working to get Democrats elected this year,” Daschle said Monday.
Caprio appeared on “The Today Show” Tuesday morning and defended his controversial quip, saying, “These comments are really just reflective of what I've been hearing from the people across the state for the last year.”
The latest Rasmussen Reports poll of the race showed Chafee with a 7-point lead over Caprio, 35 percent to 28 percent, with GOP nominee John Robitaille taking 25 percent. Republican Gov. Don Carcieri is barred by term limits from running again.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1010/44203.html