Momentum may be building on the left for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, but the Democratic field in the race for the nomination isn’t over yet.
“The other candidates…have to keep plugging away,” former Rhode Island governor and presidential hopeful Lincoln Chafee told Andrea Mitchell Tuesday.
His biggest challenge? Fundraising, he said. After announcing his candidacy on June 3, the former governor has struggled with fundraising, picking up only $30,000 in his first quarter as a candidate–low number he says could partially be because of Clinton. “She’s locked up a lot of the fundraising,” Chafee said, adding that Sanders had a lot of grass roots support too.
But how does Chafee plan to distinguish himself from Clinton and Sanders?
Chafee, a former member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told Mitchell that he differed with Clinton on foreign policy, calling her vote for the Iraq War as a senator a “colossal mistake” and her tenure as Secretary of State “hawkish.”
“It’s a different America than I want to see,” Chafee said. “I want to see us working with our allies, making more friends, more alliances.”
Chafee also used his foreign policy credentials to draw contrast with Sanders. “He isn’t talking about international issues. I’ve never heard him talk a bit about anything that’s international,” he said.
Chafee adds that his policies and willingness to talk about international issues will highlight his candidacy. “I’m talking about the international issues and how we fit in around the world.”
But even with his past experience, the former governor’s poll numbers remain low. A recent Monmouth University Poll showed Chafee in last place behind his four opponents.
Chafee remains determined to pursue his campaign for his children and future generations. “I have three children and I care about the future for our children and grandchildren,” he said.
“Luck always helps,” he added, smiling.
John O'Brien