PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Despite rampant speculation, state Rep. Elizabeth M. Dennigan is refusing to say if she will run for Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District seat occupied by fellow Democrat James R. Langevin.

But she is interested.

That's according to Langevin's office, which confirmed that Dennigan requested a private meeting with the congressman late last month.

"All she told him was that she was thinking about running," Langevin spokeswoman Joy Fox told Political Scene, declining to discuss the meeting in detail. "The congressman takes every challenge seriously. He looks forward to a good spirited campaign."
We spoke to Dennigan briefly last week and she only had this to say: "I am officially not making a statement at this time."

Dennigan lives in East Providence, the 1st Congressional District, but could establish residence in the 2nd District by moving to a summer home there.

Meanwhile, Langevin, five-term incumbent, reported improved second quarter fundraising totals (in the first quarter he spent $20,000 more than he took in), according to documents filed last week with the Federal Election Commission.

Langevin raised $188,805.50 for the three-month period between April 1 and June 30, while spending $65,034.24. That left the congressman with $300,053.76 on hand at the end of the quarter.

"We had a very strong quarter. And I think it is only an indication of more very strong quarters to come," Fox said, noting that Langevin held three fundraisers (including one hosted by actor James Woods at an East Greenwich restaurant) in the second quarter and already had five scheduled for this quarter.

Dennigan is not allowed to begin raising money for a congressional bid because she has not established a federal candidate committee. Her state campaign committee reported $2,865.05 cash on hand at the end of the first quarter -- her most recent filing -- but an overall negative balance of $14,562.80 because of an outstanding loan, according to the State Board of Elections.

And while she has yet to announce any formal campaign moves, we noticed that she is reaching out to political operatives.

"Hope you are enjoying the summer! Give me a call when you have time," Dennigan wrote last Tuesday on the Facebook page of Seth Klaiman, who served as the campaign chairman for Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts' potential gubernatorial bid. Roberts recently backed out of the race.