Cicilline sends seniors to Doherty camp

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- The race between Rep. David Cicilline and Republican challenger Brendan Doherty continues to heat up.

One day after Eyewitness News released an exclusive poll revealing that Cicilline holds a slight lead over Doherty , we've learned the congressman pulled what many would consider to be a political stunt: He sent dozens of senior citizens to Doherty's campaign headquarters.

Doherty was quick to respond, saying that Cicilline's actions were nothing more than a cute political spin.

The seniors were carrying bags filled with old pill bottles, stuffed with notes telling the Republican that they're concerned he would repeal the new health care law.

"I would not vote to repeal the Healthcare Act without a better plan," said Doherty.

The scene quickly became campaign theater as the group packed the small hallway in front of the campaign office. As the seniors were about to leave, Doherty's campaign members handed out information, saying that Cicilline lied to them on Doherty's stance.

"This is to be expected," added Doherty. "This is the way Congressman Cicilline operated in 2010. He actually lied in 2010.

Cicilline says the pill bottle drop-off orchestrated by his campaign was not a gimmick.

"Protecting seniors from increased cost of prescription drugs, providing them with free preventative exams, that's not a gimmick," he said. "I think they have a right to do anything they can to bring attention to the issue."

Hours later, Doherty spoke about his ideas to re-energize America's economy and energy use.

"This is the greatest little state in the country, and we can do better than this," he said. "We should be a model state."

As election day nears, we can certainly expect the frenzy of days like this to continue.