Ken Block (left) stands by before endorsing Allan Fung for governor. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
By Sam Wroblewski, reporting by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
Nearly two weeks after losing a contentious primary battle to Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, Ken Block endorsed the Republican nominee for governor.
“I offer whatever help Allan Fung needs to be elected as governor. I do this because the stakes are so high for us, I do this because Allan and I share so many of the same positions on how to fix what is broken here,” said Block.
Block came under fire from critics after he said he was not in the right frame of mind to endorse Fung after his defeat on September 9. Both candidates had promised repeatedly during the campaign to endorse one another regardless of the outcome.
“[Block] has shown that he is a man of his word,” said Fung, “Not only has he come forward to stand with me today, for which I am very grateful, but he has also followed through on his promise for real reform in state government. “
The endorsement concluded a long summer of negative campaigning between the two candidates. Block, who often criticized his opponent for “setting the tone and tenor of the campaign,” justified the rhetoric, attributing it to the amount of “overlap” in their beliefs and ideas.
Fung would not discuss how the Moderate Party, now fronted by former “Cool Moose” candidate Robert Healey, would affect his campaign for governor. Block, who founded the Moderate Party, said a third party is not the solution to Rhode Island’s troubles.
Listen to Steve Klamkin’s report below:
