The three-way race for Rhode Island governor has been a volatile one in the polls, flip-flopping between Democratic candidate, General Treasurer Frank Caprio, and former GOP Sen. Lincoln Chafee, who is running as an Independent. (The Republican candidate, John Robitaille, is trailing.)
Mr. Chafee was a popular senator who lost his seat in 2006 mostly as a statement on voters’ unhappiness with then-President Bush and the Republicans in power. He later left his party and was a vocal proponent for candidate Obama in his presidential campaign.
And despite his status as a former Republican, Chafee’s positions are largely liberal: He’s pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-gay marriage, and has proposed a new sales tax to help with the state's massive budget gaps – a plan that Mr. Caprio has relentlessly attacked.
The most recent polls favor Chafee, but only slightly.
And Caprio lacks the support he might have hoped for from Washington. Apparently returning the favor for Chafee's backing in 2008, President Obama recently announced that he would not endorse anyone in the race. Caprio’s response: an angry “shove it” to the president.
