Guest MINDSETTER™ Russell Taub: Matt Fecteau Misses an Important Point

Guest MINDSETTER™ Russell Taub: Matt Fecteau Misses an Important Point

In his April 26 Guest Mindsetter article on GoLocalProv, Matt Fecteau missed one or two key facets of the campaign that’s shaping up this year for Rhode Island’s District 1 Seat in Congress. He focused on State Rep Karen MacBeth, possibly because of the notoriety she received when she so publicly switched party affiliations. Once the news cycle sets on that story Fecteau contends her candidacy will wallow as incumbent, David Cicilline, turns on the star power and works his magic with aging voters.

Fecteau is honest about one thing: He self-identifies as a cynic, which makes his skewed analysis of the RI’01 Race more understandable. He was dismissive of my own chances in the Republican Primary. That’s probably because the Taub Campaign doesn’t show up on his RADAR Scope. It shouldn’t! 

This campaign is doing exactly what he advised Ms. MacBeth was her only possible path to victory. I and my supporters are showing up today to every Republican event in Rhode Island. Matt Fecteau is not, for obvious reasons, so it’s no surprise that he’s missed that fact. This is now a campaign for the RI Republican Nomination for Congress and I, for one, am approaching it that way.

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But there’s more to it than just pressing the flesh in the Ocean State. I have been traveling the nation making network contacts that have resulted in endorsements of the Campaign from past and present elected officials, appointed officials, and large donors. What good are endorsements to the Primary voters of Pawtucket? Little, if anything. The steady stream of recognition from the Republican establishment nationwide has resulted in a surge of fundraising results, though. The use of those funds down the stretch will have an impact on the folks in Pawtucket, as well as those in every other part of the District. That on-going drumbeat of fundraising is growing as the Campaign’s efforts at recognition outside Little Rhody continue to bear fruit. Ultimately it is the success enjoyed in this part of the campaign that will be critical to putting Russell Taub on a par with David Cicilline in the minds of all voters next November.

Matt Fecteau is correct on the matter of the cold blooded reality of the amount of funds available to even an energetic, longstanding Republican, here in Rhode Island. That fact does not diminish the dollar amount needed to run a Challenger’s Campaign. I contend that the GOP Primary will be won in the hearts and minds of the close-knit Republican Community here. Those votes will be cast for the candidate which that unique demographic feels can succeed against the incumbent. We have many News Cycles to go before that call can be made. Watch this space and decide after November 8th which analysis was more accurate.

Russell Taub is a working Rhode Islander who is taking time out to run for Congress because of his conviction that government at all levels has failed its taxpaying constituents. Follow his campaign on the web at www.russforcongress2016.com, or on Facebook at ‘H. Russell Taub 2016.’