RI - Riding Lead Paint to Higher Political Office

Lead paint litigation has been good to Rhode Island pols, at least so far.  Former state Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, who brought the landmark suit to RI, is now a Senator in Washington. Current AG Patrick Lynch, who made the decision to have a second go at the public nuisance litigation, easily was elected back into office.  Now, just like Eliot Spitzer, who brought the model of the activist AG over-the-top and went to the top of the state as Guv, Lynch might be heading for higher office.

Today, THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL reporters Steve People, Katherine Gregg and Scott Mackay write that the recent staff changes in the AG office hint a run for Guv for 2008. For example, Lynch has brought in John Palangio as chief of staff and Jeff Guimond as director of policy and legislation. Their expertise and network of contacts could serve, speculate the reporters, "to start laying the groundwork for a run for the governor's office?"

Lynch isn't commenting.  But this is a predicable next step for him, even though Spitzer has been experiencing more problems than many would have predicted.