By Katherine Gregg
Journal State House Bureau

This week is a big week in the political life of House Minority Whip John Loughlin.

On Sunday, the Tiverton Republican was headed to Washington for a few pointers on how, in his own words, to "take on the most powerful, left-wing political machine in our country in the next election -- the Kennedys.''

Sponsored by the National Republican Congressional Committee, the three-day, off-year "candidate school'' includes a pep talk on "earning back our majority,'' speech writing tips by former President Bush's press secretary Ari Fleischer; and a briefing by Joe Gaylord, the senior political adviser to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, on how to organize a campaign.

Loughlin tells Political Scene that he is most looking forward to attending a U.S. House GOP caucus, an exciting prospect after caucusing on numerous occasions with Rhode Island's tiny House GOP "in my car.''

But the trip may not be the high point of Loughlin's week if, as he hopes, the fundraising report he files with the Federal Election Commission next week shows he outraised the Democratic incumbent he hopes to unseat: U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy.

Federal campaign reports for the period that ended on June 30 are due by July 15.
Loughlin's campaign treasurer, Mia Caetano Johnson, said: "I estimate we are just shy of $50,000 as of July 1, 2009,'' with "no loans to date.''

Kennedy, who made a well-publicized return to Congress last week after a four-week timeout for unspecified addiction treatment, had only $214,574 cash on hand when he filed his last campaign report three months ago.

Loughlin, a three-term state lawmaker, has not officially declared his candidacy for Kennedy's 1st Representative District seat. But he filed notice with the FEC on April 6 of his potential candidacy, so he could begin raising money, and then fired off two sharply worded fundraising letters to likely contributors in the state and across the country.

After mentioning several of Kennedy's well-publicized scrapes, his court-ordered drug treatment and his voting record in Washington, Loughlin wrote: "My wife Susan and I are especially saddened that a man like Patrick Kennedy is being held up as a role model for our two children -- and for your children ... just because of his last name. That's why
I've made the decision to run against Patrick Kennedy in 2010.''

Asked again last week whether he has, in fact, made up his mind to challenge Kennedy, Loughlin said: "We are pursuing the race,'' but "I haven't made an official announcement at this point.'' He said he will probably declare his intentions early next year.