Influence Alley

So, what does it take for a Republican to win a Congressional seat from the Northeast? Take a look at the heated contest between Republican Brendan Doherty and first-term Rep. David Cicilline, who is Providence 's former mayor.

My colleague Shane Goldmacher focuses on that race in this week's National Journal Magazine, writing:

The race underscores that to win in the Northeast, Republicans have to pull off a political trifecta: They must be trustworthy or likable; they have to paint their Democratic opponent as untrustworthy or unlikable; and voters have to make their decisions on character instead of issues.

That is why the race has turned so personal. The words "incompetent," "irresponsible," and "deceitful" flash on the screen in Doherty's latest attack ad.

If Doherty wants to talk about Providence, Providence, and Providence, then Cicilline wants to talk about Washington, Mitt Romney, and the national GOP agenda. It's an effort to grab hold of Obama's coattails in one of the few regions where the president has any. On Wednesday, Cicilline announced that Obama had formally endorsed him.

Magazine subscribers can read more here.