Campaign emails heating up as the 1st quarter ends – The Providence Journal

In political circles, the final fewdays of thefirst quarter in a statewide election year brings fundraising emails fast and furious.

And some aren't quite as carefully crafted asa campaign mailer or news release.

Past Nellie Gorbeasolicitationsdescribed Gov. Dan McKee as the"appointed" governor, which isn't quite right.Their point was that McKee had not been elected governor, but his constitutionally prescribed elevation fromlieutenant governor to governor did not involve beingappointedbyanyone.

A recent fundraising email from Congressional candidate Sarah Morgenthau, using language echoing her launch video, says "My husband and I were married in our backyard in North Kingstown. Weve raised three amazing kids here." (The launch video does not include the word "here.")

Morgenthau's family lived in Washington, where she worked in the U.S. Commerce Department before moving to Rhode Island.

It is unclear exactly how much timeher children spentin Rhode Island and whether summering in a place is enough to be considered "raised" there.

"My family has owned a home here and paid taxes in [North Kingstown]for 40 years," Morgenthau wrote in an email when asked to clarify. "Carl and I were married in our backyard, our children were raised on RI beaches."

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Last Thursday, the final day of the first quarter,an email from Providence mayoral candidate Gonzalo Cuervo's campaign said its fundraising numbers"will be judged against our opponents including those who are raking in tens of thousands of dollars from special interests, municipal vendors, and lobbyists."

The night before, lobbyist Mark Ryan,law partner Tom Moses and former Mayor Angel Taveras hosted a fundraiser for Cuervo at the University Club with a $1,000 suggested donation.

Ryan, of course is a high-profilelobbyist at the State House. (Full disclosure: one of his clients is The Providence Journal.)

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Here's how Cuervo campaign manager Allan Reyes explains the message:

"Our email offered a contrast between our grassroots fundraising and our opponent raising large amounts of money from lobbyists and vendors," Reyes wrote in an email, referring to Brett Smiley. "In fact, he was fined by the state Ethics Commission for soliciting contributions from state vendors over which he exerted influence as Director of Administration in 2020. We would welcome a side-by-side comparison."

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Campaign emails heating up as the 1st quarter ends - The Providence Journal