Glow from Biden visit fleeting

The visit of Vice President Joe Biden to Rhode Island to compliment infrastructure improvements via RhodeWorks, the statewide road and bridge repair program, gave a burst of positive media attention to Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, who’s faced sharp criticism on multiple fronts in recent months.

Biden visited a bridge in East Providence on May 27, several months after Raimondo discussed the bridge program with him while attending the National Governors Association meeting.

Less than 18 months into her first term, the Raimondo administration has been buffeted by criticism on several key initiatives. RhodeWorks, a 10-year, $4.7 billion project, was approved this year by the General Assembly. But months later, opponents continue to criticize its primary funding mechanism, a series of truck tolls to be placed on state highways.

The administration also received uncomplimentary national attention for the initial, flawed rollout of a comprehensive tourism campaign.

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By May, a poll released by Bryant University through its Hassenfeld Institute for Public Leadership indicated nearly 50 percent of Rhode Islanders felt the state was moving in the wrong direction.

In September, Rhode Islanders appeared divided on that question, with 40 percent stating the state was heading in the wrong direction, and 39 percent indicating it was heading in the right direction.

Last month, only 31 percent felt it was heading in the right direction.

Is all the negative sentiment a reflection on Raimondo? The poll question is phrased broadly, without identifying the governor by name, according to Gary S. Sasse, founding director of the institute. But more importantly, the poll reflects growing disenchantment among residents.

What is interesting, he said, is it’s coming as Raimondo is establishing new programs, including economic incentives. Despite that, he said, the programs didn’t seem to connect with poll respondents.

“This is a critical question. Why don’t more Rhode Islanders feel the state is going in the right direction?” he said.

As for the impact of a Biden visit, Sasse said the vice president could be seen as an “elite” of the Democratic Party, which many Rhode Islanders rejected at the primary election.

Wendy Schiller, a professor of political science at Brown University, said the Biden visit reflects well on Rhode Island, in that it shows the Obama administration recognizes the state’s effort to fix infrastructure.

But from a political standpoint, the visit is not likely to help the governor much, she said in an email.

“Voters are starting to expect to see tangible results from the decisions she has made,” Schiller said. “Her challenge is to improve her communications with voters so they understand clearly what she is trying to do.” •

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