Democratic candidate for Governor of Rhode Island Gina Raimondo. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
President and Mrs. Obama make back-to-back visits to Providence. Mrs. Obama visits Thursday to promote Gina Raimondo’s campaign for governor, while President Obama comes Friday to deliver remarks on the economy.
Her campaign says that First Lady Michelle Obama will headline a ‘get out the vote’ rally in support of Gina Raimondo at Juanita Sanchez School in Providence Thursday. The theme is “Rally to Rebuild the Middle Class”.
President Obama will travel to the Providence area Thursday, remain overnight, then deliver remarks at Rhode Island College “on the economy and the importance of pursuing policies that help women succeed”, according to the White House.
The President will speak in the same venue where former First Lady and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton headlined a rally for Raimondo last Friday.
“You know, it’s an honor to have them in Rhode Island, I’m delighted to have their support,” said Raimondo.
“They’ve both been staunch advocates for the middle class and rebuilding the middle class, creating manufacturing jobs, and that’s why I’m running for governor,” she said. The General Treasurer said that she has never met either President or Mrs. Obama before.
The head of the Republican party of Rhode Island labeled the Obama’s trip to Rhode Island “all truck and no treat”.
“If President Obama thinks that visiting this Friday will be a treat for Gina and Rhode Island, he has got it all wrong,” said state Republican party Executive Director Robert Paquin III in a statement.
“We see through his tricks – he hasn’t been welcome in nearly any battleground state by incumbent Democrats and he is coming to the only state he thinks will accept him, but Rhode Islanders know better,” said Paquin.
