Caprio

PROVIDENCE –– Ending months of speculation, General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio on Monday confirmed that he intends to run for governor in 2010, joining a field of political heavyweights that already includes a former U.S. senator and the state attorney general.

Rhode Islanders will see proof of Caprio’s candidacy immediately.

His campaign will spend $100,000 this month to run political advertisements on every major television network beginning Tuesday.

“This is preparation of a formal announcement during the first quarter of 2010,” Caprio said in a Monday interview. “This is part of a larger plan. The plan includes a major presence on all three mediums [television, radio and the Web] for the next 12 months. And we have the resources to do that.”

The 43-year-old Providence Democrat has consistently led the money race among likely candidates. He reported a cash balance of $1.5 million as of Sept. 30, nearly three times that of his Democratic opponent, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch, and seven times more than likely independent candidate, former U.S. Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee. (Newly established Republican hopeful Rory Smith has yet to file his first fundraising report.)

Caprio vowed to spend “at least” $100,000 on campaign-related advertising each month until Election Day, which is Nov. 2, 2010.

Political rivals largely expected the treasurer to enter the contest to succeed the term-limited Governor Carcieri, but the magnitude of the pronouncement 51 weeks before Election Day was a surprise.

“It’s kind of unheard of. I can’t think of an election where a potential primary candidate for governor has started to spend $100,000 a month a year before the election,” said Chafee’s campaign coordinator, James DeRentis. But “he certainly hasn’t intimidated us. He may be trying to intimidate someone else.”

That someone, according to political observers, is likely Lynch, who may represent Caprio’s greatest challenge on the way to the governor’s office. Considered a moderate Democrat, Caprio could struggle in a primary against Lynch, the brother of the Democratic Party chairman.

“He may reach all the voters in the state [through advertising], but you don’t get past ‘Go’ unless you win the primary,” said University of Rhode Island political science Prof. Maureen Moakley. “That is going to be a competitive race.”

Lynch’s campaign brushed aside any suggestion that it was intimidated.

“This is going to have very little impact, if any, on the overall race. Patrick’s going to have the resources to run an effective campaign,” said Lynch campaign manager, Michael Mikus. “Patrick is running for governor. He’s in this to the end.”

Monday’s move represents somewhat of a gamble for Caprio, a first-term treasurer who would likely glide to a second term should he postpone a gubernatorial bid.

His moderate position on fiscal issues –– he’s aligned himself with the Republican governor’s budget strategies and has aggressively courted the business community –– leaves him open to attack from the left, although his social positions –– pro-choice and an advocate for gay marriage –– is generally in line with the state’s Democratic majority.

And Caprio acknowledges that he suffers from weaker name recognition than Chafee and Lynch. The advertising campaign should help on that front.

“Ninety-nine percent of all people aged 18-plus would see or hear the commercial and/or the message 6.4times,” said Caprio’s media buyer, Ed Valenti, chief executive officer of PriMedia, Inc. “I would characterize it as a meaningful commitment.”

The average voter, however, might not immediately realize that the commercials –– focused on Caprio’s effort to support small businesses –– are campaign-related.

“I’m working hard, listening to small-business owners, looking for new ways to create jobs, because Rhode Island needs your ideas to compete and win,” says an enthusiastic Caprio in the ad. “Together, we’ll bring this state back.”

He directs viewers to share ideas for economic growth on a Web site, PlanForRI.org, created and paid for by Caprio’s campaign.

The focus is consistent with a “listening tour” of sorts that Caprio started in early September. He has attended 16 gatherings with business owners since, and has another 7 scheduled through December.

Caprio said he has no immediate plans, however, to transform his findings –– from the Web site or meetings –– into immediate action. And his position as state treasurer largely limits his power to the state investment commission and retirement board.

“Ideas are powerful. If we’re going to change things, we need the best ideas,” he said in the interview. “A good leader is able to listen to those ideas, incorporate them into a plan and execute that plan.”Frank T. Caprio, 43

RESIDENCE: Providence

OFFICE SOUGHT: Democratic candidate for governor 2010

EXPERIENCE: State Treasurer

State Senator: 1994-2007

State Representative: 1991-1994

EDUCATION: B.A. in economics from Harvard University, 1988

Law degree from Suffolk Law School, 1991

FAMILY:

Son of Municipal Court Chief Judge Frank Caprio

Brother of state Rep. David Caprio

Married to Gabriella Caprio, two children, Ashley and Frank II

speoples@projo.com