Chafee speech sends signal he’s not leaving for Obama job

January 17th, 2013 at 5:29 pm by under Nesi's Notes, On the Main Site

There’s been plenty of speculation – including from yours truly – that Governor Chafee might take a job in the Obama administration as a graceful, face-saving way to avoid a re-election race he seems likely to lose.

But Chafee himself has never given much indication he actually wants to leave the job, and has said repeatedly that he’s planning to run. The governor’s aides say privately they think he really is intent on making the race, 29% approval rating be damned.

There was more evidence for that in Chafee’s State of the State speech on Wednesday. “It is a pleasure and a privilege to work in this building and in this great state,” he said. “Nothing could give me more satisfaction than helping to achieve progress on many fronts in Rhode Island.”

If that’s the case, why wouldn’t Chafee want four more years?

Still, there’s no doubt it will be an uphill battle – the September WPRI 12 poll found only 18% of Rhode Island voters are definitely planning to vote for him in 2014. Chafee will reveal more about his plans this weekend when he’s our guest on Newsmakers.

• Related: What the poll says about Rhode Island’s 2014 race for governor (Oct. 3)

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Permalink 3 Comments

3 Responses to “Chafee speech sends signal he’s not leaving for Obama job”

  1. Bob says:
    January 18, 2013 at 6:12 am

    Darn!!

  2. The Saturday Morning Post: Quick hits on politics & more in RI | WPRI.com Blogs says:
    January 19, 2013 at 5:00 am

    [...] It looks like Governor Chafee​ will indeed try for a second term next year. He was close to unequivocal about running during Friday’s taping of Newsmakers [...]

  3. Taveras adds Dem operative Baptista to beef up political team | WPRI.com Blogs says:
    January 23, 2013 at 11:56 am

    [...] are the two most popular politicians in Rhode Island. Independent Gov. Lincoln Chafee has signaled in recent weeks he will seek a second [...]