GoLocalProv/Harvard’s Della Volpe Poll: Raimondo’s Opioid Money, Whitehouse Leads, Free College

The GoLocalProv/Harvard’s Della Volpe Poll unveils Rhode Islanders' opinions on everything from their views on the biggest political match-ups, critical business, and healthcare issues.

John Della Volpe's Rhode Island statewide poll unveils that Rhode Islanders overwhelmingly believe that Governor Gina Raimondo should return $12,500 in campaign donations from the Sackler family.

SEE ALL THE RESULTS BELOW

The Sackler family are the billionaire owners of Purdue Pharma which is being sued by the state of Rhode Island for its role in causing the opioid crisis linked to hundreds of thousands of deaths in America. More than a thousand Rhode Islanders have died of overdoses during Raimondo’s tenure as Governor.

The poll found that 71 percent of Rhode Islanders believe Raimondo should return the money, and 15 percent she should keep the money. And, 14% percent said they don’t know.

Both local and national voices have called for Raimondo to return the political donations.

Two leading national artist activists artist Domenic Esposito and Stamford, CT Gallery owner Fernando Luis Alvarez joined GoLocalProv News Editor Kate Nagle on GoLocal LIVE in September, “So it’s okay to take money from them but not from Pablo Escobar or El Chapo in Mexico? It’s the same thing — it’s probably worse, because they have sugar coated it,” said Alvarez. “Have they become so cynical and weak to the point where some Americans have become complacent to this?”

GoLocalProv columnist Bob Whitcomb has also urged Raimondo to return the donations in a recent column, “The Raimondo campaign is very well-heeled and doesn’t need the money. Returning it would make a strong statement about the evil done by the intensely avaricious and status-obsessed Sackler family, who control Purdue and made a fortune from peddling Oxycontin (and are famous for giving money to already rich institutions and then having their name plastered on their walls).”

Raimondo has repeatedly refused to return the donations.

GoLocal CEO Josh Fenton and News Editor Kate Nagle breakdown the poll

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The poll found that the majority of Rhode Islanders believe that the free tuition program which is now available at the Community College of Rhode Island should be expanded to the University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College.

According to the poll 55 percent support expanding the program, 40 percent oppose and 5 percent don’t have an opinion.

One of the issue with the strongest support of the entire poll is the idea of an Educational Bill of Rights for students and parents — 84 percent support the idea. More impressively strong support is 51 percent and strongly oppose is just 2 percent.

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In June, GoLocalProv/Harvard’s Della Volpe Poll explored the United States Senate match-up of incumbent Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) versus challenger Republican Bob Flanders. Whitehouse then led Flanders 54 percent to 32 percent and 14 percent undecided.

Now in October, Whitehouse has moved 2 percent of the undecided and Flanders has remained stagnant.

If the election for the U.S. Senate were held today and the candidates were: [ROTATE] Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse and Republican Robert Flanders, for whom would you vote?

Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat: 56%

Robert Flanders, a Republican: 32%

Don't know: 12%

Nagle and Harvard's John Della Volpe discuss the 2018 Governor's race

SEE ALL THE RESULTS BELOW

Related Slideshow: GoLocal Statewide Poll - FULL RESULTS, Conducted by Harvard’s Della Volpe Oct. 2018

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