If Independent candidate for Governor Joe Trillo was looking to make his mark in Rhode Island politics he has succeeded. When Trillo announced he was running for Governor he claimed running as an Independent would “unchain him” from party politics and that has proven to be the understatement of the decade. Never has a candidate polling so low(7% in a poll by WPRI) made such headlines with issues completely unrelated to policy and discussion  surrounding the election. First it was the yacht crashing, then the Narragansett sign, then the  Morgan endorsement and now the “Caulk gun” police report. 

With four weeks to go, the question remained whether Trillo was running to win or running to just prevent Mayor Fung from winning? With three weeks to go, Trillo apparently answered that question when he told the Projo he would “take 2%” if it meant stopping Fung. That is not exactly a path to victory. Trillo and Patricia Morgan have come under vicious attack on social media from voters who are already pointing the finger at them if Raimondo wins. 

Gina has spent $6 million dollars yet Fung remains within striking distance of victory. Raimondo was warned by political consultants last fall she would lose in a one on one against Fung, and now the Raimondo campaign is panicked that is exactly how the race is shaping up. The more Trillo receives negative headlines, the better it is for Fung and worse it becomes for Raimondo. Fung has aggressively been touting a” vote for Trillo is a vote for Gina” and it seems to be taking hold. 

The path to victory for Raimondo is contingent on Trillo remaining a viable candidate and receiving 7-10% of the vote. After reading the Cranston police report, that 10% seems in doubt if not impossible. If Fung bumps up just 5%, the difference with Gina becomes the margin of error in the polls. 

11% remain undecided, but 80% of undecideds traditionally break for the challenger. In the next two weeks if Trillo drops below 5%, the race could be a virtual tie between Fung and Raimondo. Raimondo has invested tremendous resources on GOTV but the voter feeling of “Anyone but Gina” could be hard to overcome. On November 6, will voters really want to give Gina Raimondo another four years as Governor? 

Gina prays Trillo can get 10%

The Trillo circus has been a welcomed distraction for Governor Raimondo  from the horrendous incompetent job she has done as Governor, making her one of the least popular governors in the country. Trillo has distracted from the empty Superman building, loss of the Pawsox, broken campaign promises, non-stop traveling for fundraising,her Progressive agenda and insider deals. On November 6, the voters will decide if they want four more long years of Raimondo. To find out what is really happening, listen to the John DePetro Radio show.