By Sam Wroblewski 630wpro.com
Former Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee has announced he is considering a run for the Democratic Presidential nomination in 2016.
In a pair of campaign-style videos posted to his website, Chafee2016.com, Chafee says he is running to continue the economic legacy of President Barack Obama and to address security concerns in the Middle East and northern Africa.
“During the next weeks and months, I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts about the future of our great country,” Chafee says in a video.
The Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat served one term as governor before deciding not to seek re-election in 2014. Prior to the governorship, Chafee served as a U.S. Senator and before that, as the Mayor of Warwick.
In an interview with WPRO’s Bill Haberman, the 62-year old former Governor said there has never been a legitimate contender for the Presidency from Rhode Island and that he has the record and qualifications to run… Even if some Rhode Islanders believe he doesn’t.
“It’s funny, I’m sometimes more popular outside of the state,” laughed Chafee.
“People really respect my record as a Senator and they remember my vote against the war in Iraq and against the Bush tax cuts.”
The former Governor said his record as a Senator will help set apart in the race, particularly from presumed-candidate Hillary Clinton who voted for the war in Iraq.
“It’s a huge mistake, and as i said its relevant today in how we try and stabilize and make the world safer; there’s a lot of repair work from that mistake,” said Chafee.
Chafee is also not afraid of his record as Governor, saying he played a part in bringing the unemployment rate back from the brink after the economic crisis of 2008.
“I look forward to going to Iowa and New Hampshire and talking about our record in Rhode Island and what I did.”
Darrell West, Vice President of Governance at the Brookings Institution believes Chafee does not stand a chance against Clinton or other presumptive candidates and he is using the platform to give voice to issues he is concerned about.
“He wants to talk about the environment, he wants to talk about civil liberties, he wants to talk about US involvement in the rest of the world; I think he believes he has something to say that the rest of the field is ignoring,” said West.
View his two website videos below.
