Draft Bob Walsh for Governor 2010

Did you know that Bob Walsh ran a kick ass grassroots campaign for the 1st District Congressional seat in 1992?  In fact, Walsh lost by only 2,414 votes in the Democratic Primary and the person who beat him got clobbered in the 1992 General Election.

from the Providence Journal, 9-1-92

Bob Walsh lives amidst the disorder of a College Hill apartment with an unframed Brown University poster on his living room wall, pizza delivery flyers on his fridge at right angles to his latest collection of Doonesbury cartoons, and records that range from Elton John to the Kingston Trio.

But on the campaign trail, in grey pin-striped suit, horn-rimmed glasses and the red-striped tie he bought for his dark horse race for Congress, Robert A. Walsh Jr., the 31-year-old financial consultant and former banker, is all business.

In water-contaminated Pawtucket, he handed out bottled water (“Four for a dollar at the IGA”) instead of the usual campaign detritus.

In Bristol, two aides were already standing by with trays of Dunkin’ Donuts and punch when Walsh arrived at the Benjamin Church Manor one recent morning to introduce himself as one of the three Democrats vying for Republican Rep. Ron Machtley’s 1st District seat. There, in rapid-fire tempo, he spelled out his views on health care, defense spending and congressional perks:

“Free parking, reduced price lunches, barber shops just for them. . . . I’m going to lead by example, show there is no more royalty in America.” He promised he would, if elected to Congress, “come to Rhode Island for my haircuts.”

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