Governor Carcieri's veto of a bill that would allow gays and lesbians to claim the bodies of - and make funeral arrangements for - their partners is proof positive of an old political maxim: elections matter.

In a heavily Democratic state where a majority support gay marriage, in a region that has embraced same-sex unions more than any other in the country, this sort of modest expansion of gay rights should have passed without incident.

Republican gubernatorial hopeful Rory Smith has named his campaign team. Norway Hill Associates, led by David Carney, White House political director under George H.W. Bush and James McKay, a New Hampshire Republican political operative, will serve as political consultants. The Tarrance Group, a Republican pollster that has worked for Republican Senators Thad Cochran and Chuck Grassley, among others, will do polling for Smith.

Lincoln Chafee's name recognition and Bush-bashing appeal should, in theory, put him in a strong position for the gubernatorial race. But can he put together a winning coalition?

Liberal blogger Matt Jerzyk writes of a left less-than-impressed with Chafee's performance at a gathering of progressive activists last night - and less-than-impressed, in general, with his candidacy.

The ProJo reports that the Moderate Party, which seems to be taking a real stab at viability, met with former US Attorney Robert Corrente this morning about a possible gubernatorial run:

Former U.S. Attorney Robert C. Corrente met privately Thursday morning with officials from the newly formed Moderate Party to discuss a potential bid for governor.

Bill Lynch, chairman of the state Democratic Party, rolls out in today's ProJo what will likely be the central line of attack on Republican gubernatorial candidate Rory Smith: "I just don't believe that people in Rhode Island are going to elect someboady who is a Don Carcieri clone and ask for four more years." The comparison to the unpopular sitting governor - both are businessmen from East Greenwich - is the low-hanging fruit here.

An Associated Press story that appeard in the Boston Globe, among other papers, notes that prospective Republican gubernatorial candidate Riordon "Rory" Smith's candidacy is drawing comparisons to Governor Carcieri's initial campaign. Both are wealthy businessmen from East Greenwich who came out of nowhere to seek the state's top job.

More evidence of Lincoln Chafee's ability to get national press. From his campaign:

Look for Linc tomorrow night on “Real Time with Bill Maher.” Bill is seeking Linc’s opinion on a variety of topics of both local and national interest including: healthcare, the economy, partisan politics, and foreign affairs. Linc has heard over and over again how important these issues are to Rhode Islanders and he is pleased to be able to offer his ideas and thoughts on these and other subjects.

For months Republicans have suggested that John Hazen White, Jr., president and CEO of TACO, the Cranston-based HVAC firm, would make a strong candidate for governor - a successful businessman with money and, given his family's deep roots in Rhode Island, name recognition.

But those same Republicans have suggested that White seemed less-than-interested in running.

With a bit of momentum building around a full-scale casino in Rhode Island - House Speaker William J. Murphy, a long-time supporter of the idea, and Governor Carcieri, a long-time foe, have both suggested in recent days that the idea might be revived - the issue is beginning to bleed into the race to succeed Carcieri.

Lincoln Chafee, Republican-turned-independent, has noted that voters rejected the notion in 2006 and suggested it should remain dead.

Lincoln Chafee got some attention in recent days for pooh-poohing talk of an Indian casino in Rhode Island.

Chafee, gearing up for an independent gubernatorial run, would seem to be on safe ground. As he noted on Channel 12's "Newsmakers" show, Rhode Island voters rejected the notion in 2006.

But the idea, which House Speaker William J.

Lincoln Chafee has tapped Rhode Island native Tad Devine, a national political strategist, and his partner Julian Mulvey for his all-but-official independent bid for governor. The selection of Devine, who worked on the presidential campaigns of Al Gore and John Kerry, highlights Chafee's leftward drift since he bolted the Republican Party.

Yesterday, I directed readers to a piece in Politico that suggested a string of independent gubernatorial candidacies - including Lincoln Chafee's in Rhode Island - could hurt Democrats. W. James Antle III of The American Spectator, a conservative magazine, has a response suggesting that Republicans, in fact, have more to lose.

Interesting piece in Politico about the independent candidacies that have cropped up of late, or might in the near future. It seems that much of the activity is in traditionally Democratic states. And with a bit of a mid-term backlash against the president's party expected anyhow, those independent candidacies - including Lincoln Chafee's here in Rhode Island - could be most injurious to Democrats.

If there was any doubt that the economy will consume the looming governor's race, one need look no further than Lincoln Chafee's latest fundraising appeal:

Are you as concerned about the future of our state as I am? Looming budget deficits, high unemployment rates and lagging economic indicators – it does not have to be this way.

Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza, kind enough to link to my piece last year on the possibility of Linc Chafee gunning for governor in 2010, calls Rhode Island's next race for chief executive No. 2 in the nation (h/t Matt):

2. Rhode Island (R): By the numbers, this is a seat Democrats should control.