By Dee DeQuattro, WPRO News
On Friday Governor Lincoln Chafee told the Associated Press that he would consider running for re-election as a Democrat and the Democratic Party does not seem opposed to the idea.
“Ultimately the endorsement is up to the state committee,” said Democratic Chairman Ed Pacheco. Pacheco said he would welcome Chafee to run as a Democrat but noted that ultimately the voters would choose the candidate in the primary.
“I would say probably the governor would hold a certain edge in that regard holding the governor’s office at that time but again in respect to the process that is the most important thing here, the governor was not elected as a Democratic governor,” said Pacheco.
Chafee was Republican Senator who turned Independent when he ran for re-election. He recently was invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention by President Barack Obama.
If Chafee were to run as a Democrat he would face a possible primary with General Treasurer Gina Raimondo and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. In addition former state auditor general Ernest Almonte has already announced his intentions to run for Governor as a Democrat in 2014.
