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Proof-Variation7005 t1_iuyem69 wrote

Reply to comment by Mountain_Bill5743 in Why does everyone hate Elorza? by Locksmith-Pitiful

> Elorza has always kind of given the vibe that he has wanted to work his way up to higher office.

I think everyone assumed that and it definitely came from somewhere, but it's worth noting we were all kinda wrong. If he really was that, there's no way he rules himself out a full year before the primary when it's not even clear who the nominees would be.

He took himself out of the money 2 months before Ashley Kalus had even closed on a home in the state and had plenty of time to change his mind when it became clear it'd be a crowded field and just how vulnerable McKee was.

I had the same perception as you, but I think we might've just been wrong. Or conflating Angel's one and done run with Elorza or something, idk.

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Mountain_Bill5743 t1_iuz1l6n wrote

While that is a possibility, he was considered an underdog to win when he dropped out. This public radio article covers it pretty well "A Providence mayor has not won election as governor since Dennis Roberts won four two-year terms in the 1950s. And the uncertain level of statewide support for Elorza, even with more than $1 million in his campaign account, led campaign observers to question his chances of victory." (source: https://thepublicsradio.org/article/elorza-will-not-run-for-ri-governor-in-2022 )

He also wouldn't rule out a future run for higher office. I think if Raimondo was a lame duck and he had better odds, we might have seen different choices here. Allan fung has run and lost repeatedly for office (and actually likely to win this time), but I don't think most candidates want to take the L like that if they can help it.

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Proof-Variation7005 t1_iv2bhrl wrote

Fair points. I just think that's truly driven to climb the ladder like that is probably capable of deluding themselves on the odds. Ego and ambition are powerful drugs

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