In today's Providence Journal, columnist Edward Fitzpatrick interviewed state Republican Party Chairman Giovanni Cicione.  The column included opinions of the GOP at both the state and national level.  There really wasn't anything interesting until the conversation turned to the 2010 Gubernatorial race:

State Rep. Joseph A. Trillo, R-Warwick, has put together an exploratory committee. But can Trillo win? Cicione argued he could, noting the state has had a Republican governor for 20 of the last 24 years. “And the one Democrat we had was Bruce Sundlun — pro-business, former CEO, looked like a Republican and honestly fought the General Assembly like a Republican. I think the voters understand that a little balance goes a long way.”

The real intrigue centers on whether Stephen P. Laffey, the former Cranston mayor and investment broker, will run. In March, Laffey announced on talk radio that he would not run for governor in 2010.

But Cicione said he thinks there’s a chance Laffey will run after all. He said Laffey sold his house in Cranston but is still a Rhode Island resident and has been traveling the country with his family for months now. (A couple of months ago, for example, he received an e-mail photo showing Laffey’s family at Mount Rushmore.) “I expect I’ll be talking to him in the next few weeks when he’s back in town,” Cicione said.

Arlene Violet — the former attorney general, former talk radio host and former Catholic nun — has said she has been wooed by activists for both the GOP and the fledgling Moderate Party of Rhode Island about running for governor on their tickets. “She’s got a real broad-based appeal and obviously she has good name recognition,” Cicione said. “She’s just a fighter and a pragmatist, and I think she would turn this state on its head if she decided to do it.”


     Joe Trillo always gives the impression that he is fighting for taxpayers.  It's important to have someone like him in the House.  With that said, I don't think he is a viable candidate for Governor.  In a race against General Treasurer Frank Caprio and Lincoln Chaffee, Joe Trillo would likely come in a distant third.  To make matters worse, the GOP would also run the risk of losing yet another seat in the General Assembly.

     The fact that Giovanni Cicione didn't shoot down the idea of Steve Laffey jumping into the race makes me think there is something to the story.  Plus, we have him discussing a meeting in a few weeks.  My guess?  Steve Laffey announces by October 1st that he will run in 2010, and Joe Trillo drops out.  It's just speculation on my part, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Laffey try and put together a strong fundraising effort in the fourth quarter.

     Of course, we continue to hear rumors about Arlene Violet's possible candidacy.  They're both well-known, bright, and could conceivably raise more than enough money to launch a successful campaign.  Although, I would probably give the edge to Arlene Violet.  She has been out of politics for a long time, which many people might find appealing in this environment, plus she isn't as divisive as Steve Laffey can be.  Of course, there is also the likelihood that she could decide to run for the Moderate Party, or not at all.

     At this rate, it seems that anything can happen.  The only thing that is certain is that we will have an interesting race for Governor.