Patrick Kennedy slips 6 points in recent poll! Only federal office holder in RI to stumble.

Brown University ^ | West

[nycfree]

President George Bush's support within the state is holding steady. In this month's survey, 42 percent feel he is going a good or excellent job, down from 44 percent who rated his job performance good or excellent the last time.

Sixty-two percent rate the performance of Senator Jack Reed good or excellent, up from 60 percent in the previous survey. Fifty percent believe Senator Lincoln Chafee is doing a good job, up from 45 percent last June. Fifty-six percent feel Congressman James Langevin is doing a good job (up from 54 percent)

and 37 percent believe Congressman Patrick Kennedy is doing a good job (down from 43 percent approval in June).

[nycfree]

He is getting into too much trouble. Hopefully Dave Rogers can take him out, he has already raised almost $500,000.

[Impy]

That's excellent.

Maybe Rogers really has a chance.

What trouble is Kennedy in latley?

[nycfree]

Kennedy is always screwing up. But his latest was when he said "I don't need Bush's tax cut. I've never worked a fucking day in my life!"

The guy really is a total loser. He's not fit to serve Big Macs at McDonalds let alone serve the people of RI.

I've been talking to friends in RI and they tell me that Rogers is getting organized and that Gov. Carcieri is 100% behind him.

[Clintonfatigued]

While I wish David Rogers well, I believe it will take a well-known name to oust Patrick Kennedy from Congress. Ex-governor Lincoln Almond would be a good candidate.

[nycfree]

Ex Governor Almond was a pathetic, lazy, do nothing Governor. He wouldn't have the energy to campaign against Kennedy for 1 week. He was elected Governor BECAUSE he was so boring. RI'ers were still reeling from Gov. DiPrete's conviction when Almond was elected. Almond did NOTHING to support or advance the RI GOP. He would be the absolute worst candidate to take on Kennedy. Frmr. Congressman Ron Machtley would be a much better candidate (but he's not running) so once again that leaves us with:

Dave Rogers - Navy SEAL, family man, combat veteran, businessman, young, conservative

against

Patrick Kennedy - Never worked, single, assaulted an airport security guard, immature, LIBERAL.

Let's band together and get this loser out of office. Rogers has name recognition around RI, he can do it.

[Clintonfatigued]

There is no doubt that David Rogers is an admirable individual. And I do hope that he can achieve an upset. My concerns are that he doesn't have enough name I.D. and that Rhode Island is too liberal to support him. In the past 44 years, Rhode Island has cast a higher vote for Democrats in Presidential elections than any other state in the entire country. In fact, it nearly supported George McGovern in 1972 (47%) and Walter Mondale in 1984 (48%).

[Clintonfatigued]

There is no doubt that David Rogers is an admirable individual. And I do hope that he can achieve an upset. My concerns are that he doesn't have enough name I.D. and that Rhode Island is too liberal to support him. In the past 44 years, Rhode Island has cast a higher vote for Democrats in Presidential elections than any other state in the entire country. In fact, it nearly supported George McGovern in 1972 (47%) and Walter Mondale in 1984 (48%).

[Clintonfatigued]

There is no doubt that David Rogers is an admirable individual. And I do hope that he can achieve an upset. My concerns are that he doesn't have enough name I.D. and that Rhode Island is too liberal to support him. In the past 44 years, Rhode Island has cast a higher vote for Democrats in Presidential elections than any other state in the entire country. In fact, it nearly supported George McGovern in 1972 (47%) and Walter Mondale in 1984 (48%).

[Impy]

Easy I heard you the first time. ;-)

True RI is perhaps the most heavily rat state in the country but Repubs can win here.

Governor Carcieri, a conservative, won by a fairly wide marign cause his opponent Myrth York was a loser (narrowly lost to Almond twice). So if the dem is a dingus like York or Kennedy victory is possible. Surely Rogers will use all the money he's raising to raise him name id which I would imagine isn't all that hard in a small state like RI.

I'd say Kennedy is favored but an upset looks quite possible, and wouldn't it be a sweet one.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"I'd say Kennedy is favored but an upset looks quite possible, and wouldn't it be a sweet one."

---

I think an upset is definitely possible. If Bush does as well in the cities and suburbs as I think he will because of national security issues (reversing the decade-long swing to the RATs brought about by the end of the Cold War and the new focus on social issues), he will not do anywhere near as poorly in Providence as he did in 2000. And the blue-collar townships in eastern RI, filled with social conservatives, may belatedly move towards the GOP (as they have in other states for the past decade). Kennedy's district is ridiculously Democrat, but I don't see why Bush can't get 40%-45% of the vote in the district in 2004. Accordingly, Rogers will only need to pick up an extra 5%-10% of ticket-splitters to send Kennedy packing. It won't be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.

[nospinzone]

Would you say the RI GOP is in good enough shape to help Rogers give Kennedy a challenge? I'm not sure how to judge the strength of the RI GOP, given more recent officeholders (The two Chafees and Lincoln Almond) were liberal Republicans, and Carcieri being conservative.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Would you say the RI GOP is in good enough shape to help Rogers give Kennedy a challenge?"

---

No, Rogers will not be able to benefit from a strong RI GOP, since the party has been left in tatters following years of RINO rule (fieldmarshaldj could tell you more about that). But Rogers can mount a challenge by making Patrick Kennedy the issue. Kennedy is a buffoon, and if he doesn't step down and let a plain-vanilla Democrat run he will be vulnerable to a strong campaigner. Rogers will also benefit from President Bush's national campaign, which will emphasize national security and which will improve the GOP's standing in Rhode Island.

[Dan from Michigan]

If Paddy loses, I'll be shocked.

[nycfree]

Yesterday Patches was at it again. He called for an "investigation" of President Bush for "the doctoring" of information. As usual Kennedy was incoherent, meandering and not factual.

[ladyinred]

Don't live anywhere near the state, but hope that Patrick is voted out in his next election!!! His interviews are pure liberal drivel and he needs to go find a real job.