Rhode Island: Eroded Stronghold

RHODE ISLAND

Rhode Island has elected only Democrats to Congress since 1940 and, in proportion to its size, gave John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson the biggest majorities of any state. Yet in a special election last week to fill a vacant seat in the Second Congressional District, the Republicans came within a gnat's eyelash of winning.

Though a recount was under way this week, Democrat Robert Tiernan had apparently held the district for his party. But his plurality at week's end was so slight—410 votes out of 113,500 cast—that defeated Republican James DiPrete Jr. (rhymes with street) and his supporters sounded more...

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