Projo Politics Blog

Journal photo / Bill Murphy
Whitehouse, center, is ringed by the press as he takes a victory tour of the historic Arcade shopping mall in downtown Providence. The visit is a post-election tradition performed by both parties.

PROVIDENCE -- In his lone scheduled public appearance today, U.S. Senator-elect Sheldon Whitehouse addressed the media for the first time since ousting Republican incumbent Lincoln Chafee.

"I’ve always liked and admired the Chafee family," Whitehouse said. "Linc tried the best he could to carry on that tradition in a very different toxic environment [than that of his father and former senator, the late John H. Chafee]."

"I think the fact that the Democrats have now some power will help purge that environment and help get some clear air down there."

Is Whitehouse worried that the Democratic House of Representatives (and the possibility of a Democratic Senate) might cause gridlock between the Republican administration?

"When you have different views, you're more likely to work toward a common solution," he said. "It's when you have an absolute monopoly on power... that you get this terrible partisanship."

"I think we’ll have a much better environment with divided power again in Washington."

Audio: Listen to Whitehouse at the Arcade (MP3 format, 2 mins., 31 secs).

Also of note: Before Whitehouse arrived at the Arcade this afternoon, Chafee's brother, Zechariah, strolled by the group of media waiting for the senator-elect. Zechariah, like many of the lunch-time customers at the Arcade today, didn't know that Whitehouse was on his way in.

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples

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