Does Providence Mayor David Cicilline Have Rhode Island’s House Race In The Bag?

Is it too early to call it a lock up for gay Providence Mayor David Cicilline in his quest to become Rhode Island’s next congressman? Hoping to join the elite trio of Homos On The Hill (Polis, Baldwin, Frank) in replacing Rep. Patrick Kennedy, Cicilline has higher poll numbers and more cash than Republican opponent John Loughlin II, and Obama was in town yesterday (for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee) lending the mayor his seal of approval. In a state where Roman Catholics rule all, more surprising than electing a gay man to federal office might be the decision to drop “Providence Plantations” from Rhode Island’s official name.