David Cicilline isn’t the only one pouring cold water on Anthony Gemma’s claims of rampant voter fraud in Providence elections.

Dan Harrop, the prominent Republican activist who ran for mayor against Cicilline in 2006 and lost by 66 points, could barely stop laughing as he discussed Gemma’s allegations about what took place in that race, calling them “just nuts.”

“I disagree with the congressman on almost everything and I’m working hard to have Brendan Doherty replace him, and I don’t believe for a second that Mr. Cicilline and his team were crazy enough to buy votes against me,” Harrop, finance chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Party, told WPRI.com on Wednesday afternoon.

“Let’s be fair,” he said. “I’m not one of those politicians who can go after people when it’s simply not true. It’s ridiculous. I never heard any of that, I never saw any of that – there was no reason to do that.”

Harrop added: “I am the ‘victim’ and I am for Doherty – and I don’t believe a word of it.”

During the packed press conference, Gemma read statements from unidentified witnesses alleging that extra paper ballots were submitted at the Roger Williams Botanical Garden polling place during the 2006 election when the machines malfunctioned and that voter impersonators were brought to the polls by Cicilline staffers to cast ballots.

Harrop described Gemma’s press conference as a strange spectacle. “It would be unprofessional for a psychiatrist to use the term ‘crazy’ for someone he hasn’t examined – so I’ll let other people use those words,” he said.

Harrop said he’s “absolutely confident Doherty will win – he’s the better candidate with the better platform,” but said the Republican should win in November “fair and square.”

• Related: Gemma alleges Cicilline voter fraud | Watch the press conference (Aug. 22)