Say @#!$%&? Slighted Rhode Island Democrat lays into Obama.
Frank Caprio, Rhode Island鈥檚 Democratic candidate for governor, was candid, if not exactly tactful, when he gave his reaction to the news that President Obama would not be offering him an endorsement when he campaigns in Rhode Island Monday.
鈥淗e can take his endorsement and really shove it, as far as I鈥檓 concerned,鈥� the clearly disappointed Mr. Caprio told a morning talk show Monday.
The race is one of the closest in the country, with Caprio leading Lincoln Chafee, a Republican-turned-independent, by just a few points in the polls.
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If Mr. Obama鈥檚 decision seems surprising, remember that Mr. Chafee endorsed Obama two years ago in his presidential primary bid and is close to the president. Also, Chafee is arguably running to the left of Caprio, who is the state's general treasurer.
Chafee used to be one of a dying breed 鈥� a moderate Republican senator 鈥� until he lost his seat in 2006 in a statewide backlash against President Bush and Republicans. He later left his party.
The non-endorsement is, of course, a backhanded way for Obama to endorse Chafee.
Caprio clearly was unhappy that Obama opted for personal loyalty over party loyalty, that the decision is 鈥�Washington insider politics at its worst.鈥�
He went on to criticize Obama for not visiting the state or doing a flyover after Rhode Island experienced bad floods in the spring, and he accused the president of now 鈥渢reating us like an ATM machine.鈥�
He added, 鈥淚鈥檒l wear as a badge of honor and a badge of courage that he doesn鈥檛 want to endorse me as a Democrat, because I am a different kind of Democrat.鈥�
Ouch.
Obama is scheduled to visit a factory in Woonsocket Monday to talk about jobs 鈥� a tour that Caprio was planning to join. On the talk show, however, Caprio indicated that he would no longer appear with Obama 鈥� and after his comments, a joint tour might be a bit uncomfortable.
The White House had no comment about Caprio鈥檚 remarks Monday, but other candidates were quick to pounce.
Mike Trainor, Chafee鈥檚 acting campaign manager, said the remarks were unfortunate.
"The senator was shocked at how intemperate the remark was, especially with the president due to arrive in Rhode Island later today," Mr. Trainor told the Associated Press. "Perhaps the strain of the campaign is wearing on Treasurer Caprio."
Giovanni Cicione, chairman of Rhode Island鈥檚 Republican Party, told the AP the remarks were 鈥渧ery disrespectful鈥� and suggested they showed that Caprio was 鈥渋n meltdown mode.鈥�
The three-way race in Rhode Island, which also includes Republican John Robitaille, has been between Caprio and Chafee. Until recently, Caprio has held on to a steady, if small, lead, but the most recent poll from gave Chafee an advantage of seven percentage points. The by Nate Silver, a New York Times polling expert, gives Chafee a slight edge over Caprio.
