Cicilline, Doherty ramp up war of words

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The two leading candidates in the race for a Rhode Island Congressional seat are exchanging new barbs with a TV ad at the center of the fight.

With less than six weeks to go, Democratic Congressman David Cicilline has a new TV commercial attacking his Republican challenger Brendan Doherty by linking him to presidential candidate Mitt Romney.

• Nesi's Notes: Cicilline energized; Doherty’s poll shows he’s ‘the underdog’

In an interview with Eyewitness News, Brendan Doherty, Former Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police, accused Congressman Cicilline of “trying to steal another election through deception.“

“I think most of the voters, they understand that he misled the voters in 2010, therefore, robbed John Loughlin of a congressional seat," said Doherty. "When you mislead the voters, you’ve stolen the election. So, that’s what he’s trying to do again. He’s the master of deception.”

Doherty stood by his comments that Mitt Romney would be a good choice for Rhode Island.

“I think that Gov. Romney would be good for Rhode Island because he understands the plight of New England states. That’s why I support Gov. Romney."

In a statement Wednesday, Congressman Cicilline’s campaign wrote that Rhode Island voters are puzzled about why Doherty is so fond of Mitt Romney.

"Right now, Rhode Island voters are puzzled about what Brendan Doherty finds so appealing about Mitt Romney," said Cicilline for Congress campaign manager Eric Hyers. "That's why we'll be highlighting one of Mitt Romney and the Republican Party's ideas each day for the next six weeks in an effort to look closer at a few of the radical Republican ideas that are just plain wrong for Rhode Island."