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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLooks like Lincoln Chafee is running
Lincoln Chafee: 'I'm running' and here's why
By Jedd Rosche and Dan Merica
Updated 10:50 AM ET, Thu April 16, 2015
CNN)Former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee said Thursday on CNN that he's running for the Democratic nomination for president, just a week after announcing he formed an exploratory committee, his most definitive statement he's made toward formalizing a 2016 campaign.
"Yes, that's why I'm running. Because I feel strong about where we're going as a country," Chafee told CNN's "New Day" on Thursday, when asked why he's been so critical of Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton. Chafee was asked by CNN's John Berman in the context of having not formally declared his presidential campaign.
Chafee spokeswoman Debbie Rich said Chafee did not declare himself as a candidate for president Thursday, despite saying "that's why I'm running."
"We are still in the exploratory committee phase," she told CNN in a phone interview, adding, "We will file the proper papers to be an official candidate, but that has not happened yet."
http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/16/politics/lincoln-chafee-running-for-president/
snooper2
(30,151 posts)As a repuke he was the only one to vote against the Iraq war-
See rundown here-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Chafee
trumad
(41,692 posts)leftofcool
(19,460 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)remember Hillary was a young republican.
In November 2011, it was reported that Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley, the Chairman of the Democratic Governors Association, had asked Chafee to join the Democratic Party. When asked if he was considering it, Chafee responded, "I'm happy where I am for now."[43]
In August 2012, he announced plans to attend the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, to show support for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign.[44] After constant speculation during his term, Chafee officially joined the Democratic Party on May 30, 2013. He had previously indicated that he might run for re-election as an Independent or a Democrat.[45]
Chafee actually had a real job also -
Chafee worked as a professional farrier for seven years before entering state politics in 1985. This seven year period shoeing horses, during which he became the most sought after blacksmith in his village, made him the obvious choice for delegate to the Rhode Island State Constitutional Convention, a member of the Warwick, Rhode Island city council, and later the mayor of Warwick.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)Perhaps his stance has changed on that since now he is a Democrat.
Octafish
(55,745 posts)Chafee was the only Republican in the Senate to vote against the war authorization against Iraq in 2002 and it could serve as a key distinction if he runs against likely Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton, who voted for it....In 2008, Chafee wrote "Against the Tide," a memoir that was critical of the Bush administration and congressional Republicans. He revels in his outsider status, writing about his disillusionment with partisanship in the Senate. The book heaps blame on Republicans and Democrats alike and accuses them of putting party loyalty and ambition ahead of the public good. -- http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20150410/NEWS/150419955/3711/TOPIC
hughee99
(16,113 posts)Will go well for him and he knows it. Sounds like someone is angling for a nice appointment from the next president.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)Unless Hillary will want the job again LOL
zazen
(2,978 posts)I think there are some somewhat reasonable Republicans who secretly support Hillary/neoliberal mainstream policies but because of their network have to pay lip service to their crazier allies. However, they're getting more nervous about the lunacy of the right wing fringe. Chafee would give them a figurehead to carve out a mainstream Eisenhower-ish republican position.
Then we've got Elizabeth Warren (as a critical leader in the Senate) and Sanders as a candidate pushing Hillary to primary to the Left. It'd at least help keep up the momentum for economic populism.
Oh well.