Arlene Violet Flirts with Pollster John Zogby (posted August 2, 1999)

Talk show host Arlene Violet told Roll Call newspaper last week that if she runs for the U.S. Senate next year, she will hire pollster John Zogby as her advisor. Zogby who conducts polls for a range of media organizations, including Reuters, has in the past appeared on her radio show. He feels that she brings several advantages to the race, notably the ability to attract press attention and garner the support of Independents. "She's a controversial figure, and that at the least produces column inches and sound bites," he noted. Citing the political success of Independent Mayor Buddy Cianci, Zogby also emphasized that in Rhode Island, "some people are accustomed to pulling the Independent lever."

In the interview, Violet indicated that she would need $1.5 million in campaign funds order to make the race. She expects her Republican and Democratic opponents to spend "between $2.5 million and $3 million."