PROVIDENCE -- Former U.S. Attorney Margaret Curran, whose office prosecuted former Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr., today endorsed Lincoln Chafee for the U.S. Senate.

With the election less than two weeks away, Chafee, a Republican trailing in the polls, has stepped up his criticism of his Democratic opponent, Sheldon Whitehouse, charging that Whitehouse failed to address public corruption during his terms as U.S. attorney and state attorney general.

Former President Bill Clinton named Curran to succeed Whitehouse as U.S. attorney for Rhode Island.

Whitehouse, of late, has been painting Chafee as a Bush supporter.

Curran, in a statement delivered today at the Federal Reserve restaurant, said:
"I am asking Rhode Islanders not to waste their vote just because they disagree with the administration."

More to come ...

-- projo.com staff writer Steve Peoples