Campaign: Rhode Island

WASHINGTON, DC - Rep. James Langevin (D-R.I.), who had considered challenging Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.) next year, now faces a challenge himself — from Democratic House hopeful Jennifer Lawless.

A 30-year-old political science professor at Brown University, Lawless is running to Langevin’s left, saying that, unlike Langevin, she backs abortion rights and medical marijuana. She also says that Congress should not have meddled in the Terri Schiavo affair; Langevin backed the GOP-led intervention on Schiavo’s behalf.

Adam Deitch, Lawless’s campaign manager, declined to say how much money the candidate has raised since she began exploring a House bid earlier this year.

“She is confident that she is going to be able to raise the money to make this more than a viable campaign,” Deitch said.

Langevin won his third term, in 2004, with 75 percent of the vote.

his article appeared on June 21, 2005, in the The Hill, a Washington, DC newspaper.