Cicilline calls on RI’s top Dems for a public show of support
October 31st, 2012 at 8:25 pm by Ted Nesi under Nesi's Notes, On the Main Site
One of the surprises of the 1st Congressional District race so far has been how rarely local Democrats in better standing than David Cicilline have been asked to testify on his behalf to a skeptical electorate. There’s been no commercial featuring, say, Angel Taveras and Gina Raimondo lauding him.
Cicilline’s campaign will make a move to remedy that on Thursday. One day after the new WPRI 12 poll showed Brendan Doherty nearly closing the gap with Cicilline, the Rhode Island Democratic Party announced the party’s big guns will give Cicilline a major public show of support Thursday.
The media advisory is headlined: “RI Dems, Cicilline to discuss Democratic priorities at 1 p.m. news conference Thursday.” The idea is obvious: by standing next to Cicilline, perhaps some of these better-liked Democrats’ popularity will rub off as the incumbent finishes the political fight of his life.
The lineup of speakers who’ll join Cicilline at the Democratic unity event at Slater Mill in Pawtucket: U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Treasurer Gina Raimondo, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, Attorney General Peter Kilmartin and Democratic Party Chairman Ed Pacheco.
Cicilline’s approval rating in the 1st District was only 36% in the new WPRI 12 poll, but last month’s survey showed some of those who’ll join him tomorrow are much more popular, notably Raimondo (60%), Taveras (59%) and Reed (54%).
The two newcomers – Raimondo and Taveras, potential 2014 rivals for governor – could be particularly helpful to Cicilline, since they’ve spent the last two years building up their bipartisan credibility as truth-tellers and good fiscal stewards. Ironically, Taveras has done so by cleaning up a budget mess in Providence that many voters now blame on his predecessor.
Separately, Cicilline’s campaign announced Wednesday that former Congressman Patrick Kennedy will return to Rhode Island to campaign for Cicilline in a few days, as well. His new hometown of Brigantine, N.J., was badly damaged by superstorm Sandy.
An earlier version of this story listed an incorrect 1st District approval rating for Mayor Taveras.
Tags: 1st Congressional District, angel taveras, campaign 2012, david cicilline, democrats, gina raimondo
Nesi's Notes covers politics and the economy in and around Rhode Island for WPRI.com. (Twitter: 
No mention of Ralph Mollis ?
Nope. Maybe they thought it was inappropriate since he oversees elections and this could be a very close outcome?
In the end, Mollis was there.
Cicilline is shrewd..He knows alone, he has troubles but with those more popular than he in his party he willemploy their assistance. He will ride on the coat tails of the popular democrats like Raimondo and Taveras.Reed and Whitehouse.He knows there is strength in numbers and that most of his constituency support his colleagues!
Cicilline even has Bill Clinton making phone calls on his behalf….He cannot do it alone. The voters of his district should vote him out… Do not accept the small crumbs he dishes out to you..He left Providence in disgrace. He lied. Need I say more?
[...] in Pawtucket this afternoon as Congressman David Cicilline, nearly tied in the polls, called on the more popular members of his party to stand by his side in a show of public support for his re-election [...]
[...] in Pawtucket this afternoon as Congressman David Cicilline, nearly tied in the polls, called on the more popular members of his party to stand by his side in a show of public support for his re-election [...]