According to Kathy Gregg at the Providence Journal and other insider sources, outgoing Attorney General Patrick Lynch is going to end his poorly-managed race for the Democratic nomination for governor on Thursday.
Apparently, Patrick Lynch has finally acknowledged the political reality which virtually everyone else out there already knew months ago — he can’t win.
While this certainly frees up Frank Caprio in so far as the Democratic primary is concerned, it probably will benefit ex-RINO Linc Chafee more in the long run, as it should help Linc to solidify support among the left-of-center and so-called “progressive” voters in the general election. Caprio will no longer be under any pressure to appease the left-wing “Myrth Yorke” part of his party, and will turn his focus and his public speaking towards the general election. Those lefty voters who usually vote Democrat may very well turn elsewhere, such as to liberal independent candidate Linc Chafee or the (not so) Moderate Party’s Ken Block.
This would be in sharp contrast in both style and substance to Frank Caprio, who has a reputation — whether deserved or not — of being a relatively more conservative and disciplined candidate (and he can even form complete sentences, too!). Expect Caprio and Chafee to spend more time (and a lot more money) attacking each other directly. This may also end up affecting the race in the First Congressional District race as well. I think it could very well end up helping the other Lynch brother and hurt Cicilline.
While on the surface, this may not look good for either of the Republican candidates in the short term, it may actually be good news for John Robitaille and the others, as they will be able to focus on their own positives, and leave Caprio and Chafee to draw blood from each other. However, the Republicans and the Moderate in the race will have to do a lot more to get noticed, and to raise a lot more money to make the race at least competitive.
