2010 AG Race: Ian Donnis' Interesting Conversation with the Current AG

... can be found at Donnis' blog on WRNI.

It sounds like the current AG read a recent comment here by Joe Bernstein - something about the inadviseability of two Lynchs running for two out of five General Offices in 2010 - and has taken it to heart.

During a taping this morning of WPRI/WNAC-TV's Newsmakers, Attorney General Patrick Lynch called it unlikely that his brother Bill, chairman of the state Democratic Party, will run for AG in 2010.

This comes as Bill Lynch has said he is considering the AG race, amid questions about Patrick Lynch's focus on the 2010 gubernatorial campaign.

Here is a verbatim transcript of a followup interview I had with Patrick Lynch after the show. (I've left a voice mail for Bill Lynch and will post his response if and when he responds.):

Ian Donnis: How likely is it that your brother Bill will run for attorney general if you do indeed run for governor in 2010?

Patrick Lynch: I don’t think very high at all. I think Bill is a fine candidate, I think he’s a tremendous chairman, but I don’t think the two Lynches being on the ballot is necessarily something that would be responded to well by the people. That’s understandable. But remember, we’re a long way off from anybody deciding what office they’re formally running for. While there’s kind of rank speculation on the street, and some buildup in the background -- of whether it’s money and support in some levels -- there’s a lot of people exploring a lot of different opportunities. So if someone, including my brother, indicat[es] they’re considering a run for the office, [that’s] kind of light years away from where someone actually puts their name on a ballot.

Donnis: If your brother were to run, and you were to run for governor, would you endorse him for attorney general?

P. Lynch: I just don’t see that happening.

Donnis: You don’t see your endorsement happening, or you don’t see him running?

P. Lynch: I just don’t see . . . I have every intention of my name being on the ballot for governor of the state of Rhode Island, next September if there’s a primary, and if there’s not, in November. I don’t see when that happens, my brother’s name being on the ballot as an attorney general candidate, because I don’t see the people responding well to it.