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Ex-Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee ponders 2016 run as a Democrat Ex-Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee ponders 2016 run as a Democrat
(about 2 hours later)
Lincoln Chafee, a former Rhode Island senator and governor, announced on Thursday that he was considering a run for the presidency as a Democrat.Lincoln Chafee, a former Rhode Island senator and governor, announced on Thursday that he was considering a run for the presidency as a Democrat.
The announcement marked a new step in a rather unusual political career.The announcement marked a new step in a rather unusual political career.
The son of long-time Republican senator John Chafee, Lincoln Chafee worked as a blacksmith at harness-racing tracks and served as mayor of Warwick, Rhode Island before he was appointed to the US Senate in 1999, after his father’s death. He won election to a full term in 2000. The son of long-time Republican senator John Chafee, Lincoln Chafee worked as a blacksmith at harness-racing tracks and served as mayor of Warwick, Rhode Island, before he was appointed to the US Senate in 1999, after his father’s death. He won election to a full term in 2000.
While on Capitol Hill, Chafee distinguished himself as perhaps the most liberal Republican in Washington. He voted against the Iraq war and for raising taxes and in 2004 even pointedly refused to vote for George W Bush. (Instead, he wrote in George HW Bush.) In a deep blue state like Rhode Island, however, this wasn’t enough for hime to win re-election – he was swept from office in the Democratic wave of 2006.While on Capitol Hill, Chafee distinguished himself as perhaps the most liberal Republican in Washington. He voted against the Iraq war and for raising taxes and in 2004 even pointedly refused to vote for George W Bush. (Instead, he wrote in George HW Bush.) In a deep blue state like Rhode Island, however, this wasn’t enough for hime to win re-election – he was swept from office in the Democratic wave of 2006.
After that, Chafee continued to migrate to the left. He changed his registration to independent and endorsed Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic primaries. In 2010 he decided to run for governor of Rhode Island, winning a three-way race against Democratic and Republican opposition.After that, Chafee continued to migrate to the left. He changed his registration to independent and endorsed Barack Obama during the 2008 Democratic primaries. In 2010 he decided to run for governor of Rhode Island, winning a three-way race against Democratic and Republican opposition.
But his tenure in the state house was rocky and plagued by budget woes. Although Chafee finally joined the Democratic party in 2013, in an attempt to shore up his political base, it wasn’t enough to keep a re-election bid viable. In September 2013, he announced that he would not seek a second term.But his tenure in the state house was rocky and plagued by budget woes. Although Chafee finally joined the Democratic party in 2013, in an attempt to shore up his political base, it wasn’t enough to keep a re-election bid viable. In September 2013, he announced that he would not seek a second term.
In a video posted on his website on Thursday, Chafee cited “his good judgment on a wide range of high-pressure decisions, decisions that require level-headedness and careful foresight” as reasons for his candidacy.In a video posted on his website on Thursday, Chafee cited “his good judgment on a wide range of high-pressure decisions, decisions that require level-headedness and careful foresight” as reasons for his candidacy.
The website also offered some basic information on Chafee’s views on issues as well as a testimonial from the late Democratic senator Robert Byrd and a link to the Kindle edition of his 2010 book, Against the Tide.The website also offered some basic information on Chafee’s views on issues as well as a testimonial from the late Democratic senator Robert Byrd and a link to the Kindle edition of his 2010 book, Against the Tide.