Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Journal photo / Frieda Squires
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed speaks with reporters after a ceremony for a new manufacturing facility plant in East Providence.

EAST PROVIDENCE -- U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said this morning he was flattered by mounting speculation he may be a vice presidential contender on Barack Obama's ticket but said he was not interested in the job.

At the ribbon-cutting for a company that supplies the defense industry, Reed was asked about veepstakes chatter surrounding his upcoming Iraq and Afghanistan trip with Democratic presidential candidate Obama.

Reed said the speculation was interesting and flattering. But, the Rhode Island Democrat said, "I believe I have the best job in the world, and I'm going to try to keep it."

It will be Reed's 12th visit to Iraq and/or Afghanistan. U.S. Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican, is also scheduled to accompany Obama.

Reed and U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, a Democrat, were in East Providence for the ribbon cutting of the $30-million manufacturing plant for Aspen Aerogels.

The company received $15.5 million in federal aid with help from Reed and Kennedy.

Aspen Aerogels makes high-tech thermal insulation that can be used in various ways by the Defense Department, including shielding jets from heat-seeking missiles. It was described as essentially disguising or covering the thermal signature that military vehicles give off and that a weapon can home in on.

The company, which began operating about three months ago, employs about 40 people, but the company plans to expand in the next two or three years and hopes to employ 100 people by end of 2009.

At the end of the plant tour, Reed said he has had discussions with Obama about the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan. Reed said he had been impressed with Obama's "very fine strategic view of the world, about what we have to do, what changes we have to make."

The new plant, Reed said, was a good example of the kind of achievement he can help bring to Rhode Island by earmarking money for Aspen Aerogels. He said this was one of few areas of high-tech manufacturing in Rhode Island that plans expansion in the coming years.

(With reports from Journal staff writer Tom Mooney)

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