The Advocate touts Cicilline's gov hopes

Because it ignores David Cicilline's various political problems over the last 13 or so months (including his controversial brother), this piece in the Advocate -- which talks up the Providence mayor's gubernatorial hopes -- feels rather disconnected from reality (h/t GC:PVD).

Cicilline’s salesmanship could soon be put to a new test. Widely considered one of the state’s most viable gubernatorial candidates for 2010, he’s hinted that he’ll throw his hat into the ring early this year. “It’s something I’ve been looking at in a serious way,” Cicilline says.

It’s a victory that would be historic. No other governor has ever run as openly gay (New Jersey governor Jim McGreevey came out while in office). But it’s not a done deal.

“Mayors don’t translate to governors easily,” says Donald Sweitzer, Democratic National Committee finance director. “Big-city mayors face an enormous amount of problems in their day-to-day duties, and they rack up a lot of detractors.” But Cicilline, who has largely maintained a 60%–plus approval rating, could buck the trend. His only major adversary is the Providence firefighters labor union, with which he’s been engaged in a hard-fought contract dispute.

“But David is a unique character,” Sweitzer adds. “He will hold statewide office soon.”