Projo Politics Blog

Rep. John Loughlin, a Tiverton Republican, told Political Scene last week that he is considering whether to challenge U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy in November.

“It has not been ruled in or ruled out at this point,” said Loughlin, 49, a retired Army Reserve lieutenant colonel. “I’ve had some discussion with folks in Washington about the race.”

He declined to identify the “folks” he spoke to in Washington, describing them only as “folks in the Republican Party apparatus.”

Loughlin said he would at the very least run for reelection to his House District 71 seat.

Campaign finance reports suggest that he isn’t well-positioned for a run at an incumbent congressman with deep pockets.

Loughlin had $7,973 in his campaign account as of March 31, according to the latest filing with the state Board of Elections.

Kennedy, meanwhile, had $617,182, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

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