Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Despite mounting talk on local blogs about Rhode Island House Minority Whip John Loughlin's plan to challenge U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy for his congressional seat, Loughlin says this morning that he's made no decisions yet.

"I have absolutely nothing to announce now," he said a short time ago.

In February, Loughlin, R-Tiverton, signaled to the Journal that he was considering a run.

But this week he emailed a letter to supporters that sure looked like a campaign announcement. Splashed with images of the American flag and the U.S. Constitution, it reads: "Run John Run," "Loughlin for Congress" and "A New Voice for Rhode Island" before declaring, "I write to you to today for two reasons, to introduce myself and to seek your support." The letter goes on to detail his own biography and criticize the job Kennedy has done in Washington.

Loughlin now says he is not declaring anything and hasn't even launched a Web site. "I wanted to reach out to people who have supported me in the past because obviously you have to raise a lot of money in a race like this -- enough to purchase media and yard signs and all -- and one of the ways you do that is to reach out to those who've supported you in the past. But again, I have absolutely nothing to announce right now."

What kind of time frame until he makes a final decision? Loughlin says he's not sure. It will take a combination of dollars and timing to tip the scales.

Stay tuned.

Loughlin, 50, is a self-employed media consultant and commercial advertising producer. He has been a member of the state House of Representatives since 2005.

 Tags  John Loughlin Patrick Kennedy Tiverton RI

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