The state GOP says the incumbent congressman is too strong. Meanwhile, Dennis Michaud, the GOP challenger to Governor Carcieri, is off the ballot.

01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, July 22, 2006

BY SCOTT MAYEROWITZ and SCOTT MacKAY
Journal Staff Writers

PROVIDENCE -- For the first time in 149 years, there will be no Republican candidate this year in the 2nd Congressional District, the seat now held by Democrat James R. Langevin.

Patricia Morgan, the state GOP chairwoman, said the lack of a candidate reflects the reality of Langevin's strength and the Rhode Island's Republican Party's decision not to recruit a placeholder who had no chance of wining the seat.

Langevin does face a primary from Brown Prof. Jennifer L. Lawless and the winner of that race will face Rod Driver, an independent.

It also became clear yesterday that Dennis W. Michaud, who was challenging Governor Carcieri in the GOP primary, failed to gather enough signatures to make the ballot. He declared his candidacy two months ago.

Michaud was disqualified when the secretary of state's office finished its candidate certifications.

In the 2nd Congressional District, state librarian Tom Evans said that in 1857 there were two candidates for the seat in the House of Representatives: one from the Democratic Party and one -- William D. Brayton -- running on the American and Republican party ticket. The Republicans have fielded a candidate every election since, he said.

The Democratic Party has had candidates every election since 1861. That year -- in both congressional districts -- there were only candidates from the Republican and Union parties, Evans said.

Garrison Nelson, a University of Vermont political science professor and expert on Congress, says it is unusual for a major party to have no candidate. "It was a fairly common occurrence in the old days of the one-party South, because the Democratic primary was the election. But is hasn't happened much since."

"He [Langevin] is very strong," said GOP chief Morgan. "We have a lot of other things going on this year and I don't like to just put up candidates who have no choice of winning."

Langevin captured roughly 75 percent of the vote in 2004, defeating then East Greenwich Town Council President Chuck Barton.

In the state's other Congressional district -- now held by U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy, a Democrat -- there are two Republicans facing off in a primary. One of those Republicans, Jonathan P. Scott or Edmund R. Leather, will then go on to challenge Kennedy and Kenneth A. Capalbo, an independent.

As for the governor's race, candidates are required to gather 1,000 signatures. Michaud only received 933 valid signatures, according to Peter Kerwin, spokesman for the secretary of state.

Carcieri and Lt. Gov. Charles J. Fogarty, a Democrat, are the only two candidates to qualify. They will face off in the Nov. 7 general election. Carcieri collected 2,731 valid signatures and Fogarty had 4,707, according to the secretary of state's office.

Michaud's campaign manager Scott MacPherson said about 1,500 signatures were collected. "We decided for the good of the party not to appeal," Michaud said yesterday.

After talking with the governor's campaign, Michaud threw his support behind Carcieri.

Carcieri campaign manager Kenneth K. McKay IV didn't make much of the news.

"This campaign has been about November from the beginning," McKay said yesterday.

Michaud's wife, Nancy Springett Michaud, who declared for the District 2 seat in the Rhode Island House also failed the get the necessary signatures. She needed 50 but only had 41. The district includes Providence's Fox Point neighborhood down to South Main Street, where the couple lives, and part of East Providence.

While Michaud did not appeal to the state Board of Elections, his wife did, Kerwin said.

Each local board of canvassers certifies to the state signatures collected in their city or town.

Signatures are deemed invalid if a person is not a registered voter, is registered in a town different than the one the form is submitted to, or if the signature is illegible.

Republican City Chairman David Talan, who supports Carcieri, had offered to help Michaud -- and anyone else "willing to call themselves a Republican" -- gather signatures.

"Dennis had told me that he didn't think they needed help," Talan said. "I just took his word for it."

"For any first-time candidate, this is a horrible process," Talan added. "Incumbents know who will sign and who is eligible."

smayerow@projo.com / (401) 277-7513

smackay@projo.com / (401) 277-7321