The Dems on Smith

Bill Lynch, chairman of the state Democratic Party, rolls out in today's ProJo what will likely be the central line of attack on Republican gubernatorial candidate Rory Smith: "I just don't believe that people in Rhode Island are going to elect someboady who is a Don Carcieri clone and ask for four more years." The comparison to the unpopular sitting governor - both are businessmen from East Greenwich - is the low-hanging fruit here.

But Lynch offered a variation on the theme to the Associated Press: playing up Smith's ties to Wall Street amid populist discontent over the financial collapse. Smith has worked in private equity.

It is an attempt to turn Smith's strength - his business experience in a state desperate for economic leadership - into a liability. We'll see if it works.