Obama can go "shove it"

[dgreco]

Democratic candidate for RI governor made the comment today President Obama can go "take his endorsement and shove it" when he endorsed former republican senator turned independent Linc Chafee for governor.

"He can take his endorsement and really shove it as far as I'm concerned," Caprio told talk-show host John DePetro during an interview on WPRO-AM.

Mulligan quoted independent candidate Lincoln Chafee's spokesman saying Obama's decision "is a victory for Linc Chafee," who is one of Caprio's opponents in the race for governor.

Former Republican Senator Chafee endorsed Mr. Obama for president in 2008.

Caprio went on to criticize Mr. Obama for not visiting Rhode Island during this spring's record floods.

Caprio said Rhode Islanders "are hurting," that the state has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and "now he's coming into Rhode Island treating us like an ATM machine."

Awesome, or blew his chance to win the election?

http://www.projo.com/news/content/projo ... 9be24.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

On the main projo page they have the audio.

[Bronco]

"Caprio went on to criticize Mr. Obama for not visiting Rhode Island during this spring's record floods."

I heard he hates white people

[native]

[COBBLESTONE]

Not a good move by Caprio. He has basically put himself in a lose-lose situation. If he loses the election he can look at himself and his childish remark. If he wins he'll still have egg on his face. RI will not see a dime of federal funds or any disaster relief from the Obama adminstration if Caprio is governor. Personally I think he just gave the election to Chafee or Robataille.

[andy7171]

So Obama endorsed the independant candidate and not the democrat?

[GannonFan]

So Obama endorsed the independant candidate and not the democrat?

Yeah - kinda a qui pro quo with Lincoln Chaffee, since Chaffee endorsed Obama early on in 2008. Chaffee's the independent, but he would certainly be one who would go along with much of the policies Obama would be supporting.

Probably the biggest snafu about this was how the Democrat was informed of the endorsement snub (via a reporter) and then also because it was done just before Obama visited the state. It didn't make for good PR, although the endorsement choice itself wasn't/isn't terribly shocking.

[Ivytalk]

"Caprio went on to criticize Mr. Obama for not visiting Rhode Island during this spring's record floods."

I heard he hates white people

What did he expect Obama to do? Part the waters?

[00bluehen]

I don't believe that Obama has given a formal backing to Chafee at this point. His snub of Caprio is being taken as silent endorsement of The Linc. Of course, Obama might've given an endorsement at some point and I just missed it since I don't read the ProJo.

[COBBLESTONE]

I don't believe that Obama has given a formal backing to Chafee at this point. His snub of Caprio is being taken as silent endorsement of The Linc. Of course, Obama might've given an endorsement at some point and I just missed it since I don't read the ProJo.

As you said the Caprio camp is looking at his snub as a silent endorsement for Chafee. I doubt a sitting Democrat president would actually come right out and give a formal endorsement to a former Republican who is running with an (I) next to his name.

I noticed today that Bill Clinton is coming to RI to stump for Caprio. It looks to me like Frank is looking for some quick damage control.