Former Senator Lincoln Chafee has taken the first step towards running for Rhode Island Governor as an independent in 2010.  Earlier today Chafee formed an exploratory committee.  This allows him to start fund raising and forming a campaign staff.

Chafee declined to say outright that he was running, but says he is interested.  He added that Rhode Island needs bold decisions to turn around its economic situation.

Chafee was appointed to the US Senate in 1999 to fill the seat left vacant by the death of his father.  He was the only Republican to vote against the Iraq War and was critical of George W. Bush.  In 2006 he lost his seat to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse, and later left the Republican Party.  Currently he is a teaching fellow at Brown University in Providence.

(photo courtesy of   wikimedia commons)