Photo | Dee DeQuattro

Gemma says he will focus on Doherty not Cicilline, Doherty reacts

Posted: 4/16/2012 9:45:55 AM
Updated: 4/16/2012 10:29:20 AM

Anthony Gemma, who just announced his candidacy for congress in the First District on Sunday, said he is going to focus his energy on Republican Candidate Brendan Doherty and not on his Democratic primary opponent, Congressman Cicilline.

“I’m not going to kick a person when he is down,” Gemma told the WPRO Morning News with Tara Granahan and Andrew Gobeil. “This race is not about him this race is about me and Brendan Doherty.”

Doherty dismissed Gemma’s strategy. “I think someone needs to remind Mr. Gemma that he has a primary,” Brendan Doherty told the WPRO Morning News with Tara Granahan and Andrew Gobeil.

Doherty said with Gemma in or out of the race it doesn’t make a difference to him. “I’m just going to continue to focus on my campaign and travelling through the first district. This race comes down to leadership and character.”

The Cicilline Campaign issued a response to Gemma's candidacy, "David is working hard to get things done for the people of Rhode Island and to earn the support of the residents of the First District. There are some big difference between the candidates in both the primary and the general and this election will be about who can best stand up for the middle class and fight for common sense policies to get our economy back on track."

Gemma did not mention Cicilline once during his campaign announcement speech but he was not shy when it came to Doherty. After numerous attacks on Doherty in his campaign announcement speech on Sunday night Gemma did not let up during his interview with the WPRO Morning News.

“Brendan Doherty cannot solve the problems economically he does not have the skill set. I mean it is clear look at his interviews he is not capable of doing this job,” said Gemma.

Doherty did not strike back but instead defended his career and leadership abilities. “I have been in leadership my whole career I worked for the state police as a colonel as a superintendent, as a commissioner of public safety, I ran the department efficiently, cut costs. I’m all about fiscal responsibility,” said Doherty.

Doherty said that he believes both Gemma and Cicilline are threatened by his candidacy. “I think they are alarmed because they saw the channel 12 polls and I am beating them both by double digits.”

Doherty said he is sure he is the most qualified candidate in the race. “There is no comparison to me with any other candidate in this race when it comes down to leadership and character,” said Doherty.

Dee DeQuattro | WPRO News