Dean, Kerry, and Lieberman neck and neck in Rhode Island

[CMT]

According to a Brown University Poll if the Rhode Island Primary were held today this would be the result:

Dean: 17%
Kerry: 17%
Lieberman: 17%
Gephardt: 7%
Braun: 3%
Sharpton 2%
Edwards 1%
Kucinich 1%
Graham 0%
Undecided: 35%

In Rhode Island, George W. Bush has a 42% approval rating and 50% disapproval rating. Bush's approval rating was 44% in June, 2003. More than three times the number of people surveyed believe Bush is doing a poor job as compared to an excellent job as president. Only 7% of Rhode Islanders rate Bush's job performance as excellent while 23% believe he is doing a "poor" job as president.

Democratic Senator Jack Reed has a strong 62-21 percent approval rating.

Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee has a 50-36 percent approval rating.

Democratic congressman Patrick Kennedy only has a 37% approval rating!! (worse than Bush) and 50% disapproval rating. In June Kennedy had a 43% approval rating.

Democratic congressman Jim Langevin has a solid 56-19 percent approval rating.

Can any Rhode Islanders on DU explain why Patrick Kennedy (son of Teddy) is not doing better in a heavily Democratic state such as RI??
and is he in trouble of losing his seat in 2004?

http://www.insidepolitics.org/polls/rel903.html

[caledesi]

1. Being a native Newporter from RI...

I have converted all of my immediate family to Dean. Yeah, it was a struggle. They were very much for Kerry (you know, the Kennedy thing...Mass etc). But, I told them to listen to Dean and lo and behold, they did. So now 4 people from my family are for Dean.

Yeah, I am happy.

In reference to Patrick Kennedy. What can I say? He is NOT that bright.

In fact many Rhode Islanders like Lincoln Chafee. (just wish he would jump ship).

edit: usual stuff

[CMT]

2. Great job, Caledesi

Being from neighboring Massachusetts I'm surprised Kerry isn't leading in this state, but there are lots of undecideds so it looks to be anybodys race.

One thing is certain whoever the Dem nominee is will beat Bush like a drum in November, 2004 in the state.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. Your conversions alone should cover the necessary delegates!

Just a note of interest: I get the impression that RI is heavily influenced by politics from outside it's borders from your post. What's the political atmosphere there?

[arcos]

4. Chafee's numbers are not impressive...

could he be pressured to run as a Democrat next time around, instead of switching parties right now? Probably he would win easy reelection without the added stress that a party switch in another moment would cause.

[TheDonkey]

5. RI is a great state...

I hope Kerry pulls away with it. Dean should also have a lot of momentum there too.

[goobergunch]

6. Due to the proportionality of delegate selection...

this is good news for all three candidates.

[Octafish]

7. That IS a horse race!

Lot of undecideds, too.

Any debates coming up in Rhode Island?