Washington (CNN) - Rep. Patrick Kennedy already had a Republican challenger, businessman John Loughlin, before he decided to retire from his Rhode Island seat late Thursday.
Now that Kennedy is out of the race, another Republican might jump in: Rhode Island GOP chairman Giovanni Cicione.
"I am more than interested," Cicione told CNN Friday. "I would love to do it, I just don't know if I am in a position to do it."
Cicione predicted that more Republicans might decide to pursue the open seat, which leans Democratic. Several Rhode Island Democrats have already expressed interest in succeeding Kennedy.
"I think we are going to see a lot of activity on the Republican side," said Cicione, an attorney who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1996. But, he added, "John Loughlin is a good candidate and I want to see him succeed."
The Rhode Island GOP has been plagued by infighting between moderates and conservatives in recent months, with conservative elements recently banding together to demand Cicione's ouster over the question of whether to keep Republican primaries open to independent voters. Ciocione favors doing so.
From CNN Politics
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Another dem leaving the sinking ship. Chalk one up for another republican seat in the house. It won't be long now before Obama's agenda is in the toilet, where it belongs.
It is time for the media to put this front and center on all outlets so the American people can point their fingers at the real cause for our economic disaster: GEORGE W. BUSH!!
It is time for the GOP to stop blaming Obama and the Democrats
for this disaster.
Get some spine GOP – you destroyed our economy hand in hand with your hero (and idiot) George W. Bush.
Rhode Island will be a tough venue for any GOP, but with the mood of the american voter, they may just be able to put up a good race. dem are finding themselves not as popular today as they were a year ago. much like the republicans when got into power, dems forgot about actually governing instead of just trying to stay in power.
Oh please don't let this one go to the Democrats. For the Lord's sake we must get this evil out of Washington.
God Bless this Kennedy family, they have given so much and so much has been taken from them. Politics and their personal lives have had such a tragic ending. I'm not so sure most Americans could overcome what this family has endured over the years.
I would not be surprised to see Patrick Kennedy move back to Massachusetts and try to run against Scott Brown. That is a move that a Kennedy would do, I can’t win in RI so I will continue to ride my daddy’s coat tails…
And the sharks start circling . . . . .
At least this drunk did not kill anybody and leave them to die. Even the north east is starting to realize the kennedys are the trash of this country.
GO NORTHEAST REPUBLICANS, not RINO's, GOOD REPUBLICANS.
Kennedy is another gutless liberal who sees the writing on the wall, I HOPE he comes to Massachusetts and tries to reclaim his drunken Fathers seat, I would LOVE to beat him.
Patches, YOU ARE THE JOKE and Scott Brown sends his love coward.
I hate this POS, and he deserves the litany of TRUTHFUL postings that will hammer this dumber than Biden JOKE.
If his name was Patches Kineavy HE NEVER WOULD HAVE BEEN ELECTED BY THE CAMELOT NITWITS.
The only people the GOP wants to allow to vote are the birthers, deathers, white idiots.
Open primaries are put forward by both parties of the RINO type. Ca. has a vote on it for June. Now RI has a GOPer who wants to water down the GOP choice. Indies can vote in the general election and if they follow the lead of Va.,NJ, Mass., they are going to favor the Pub choice who at any rate will be better than any leftist Dem.
I want the IBM sponsored team to win.
Thank goodnes Patrick will be out of office soon. The Kennedy's have been nothing less than a leach sucking on the teat of the American taxpayer for decades. Good bye!
Good riddens!
Another Kennedy seat now history? Can wonders ever cease?
The Right-wing offers nothing but misery, fear, and hate, with a little racism and homophobia mixed in. Their single goal is to return to power and finish the destruction they started in America.
Maybe Kevin Vigilante should take his seat. Now wouldn't that be something? A throwback to that old race, and I think it'll be a good gesture in waiting, wouldn't you be able to say that with good graces?