By Katherine Gregg

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Three likely candidates for governor have agreed to take part in Drinking Liberally's "Countdown to 2010" speaking series, including former U.S. Sen. Lincoln Chafee, General Treasurer Frank Caprio and Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch.

The Republican-turned-independent Chafee will be the leadoff speaker Wednesday ; Caprio is expected Nov. 25, and Lynch Dec. 16. All begin at 8 p.m. at the Wild Colonial, 250 South Water St., Providence. All are free with no actual drink requirement.

Drinking Liberally describes itself as "a national progressive social group that gives like-minded, left-leaning individuals a place to gather, exchange ideas, and get involved." The local hosts were initially listed as Chris Blazejewski, Kim Ahern, Meghan Grady, Matt Jerzyk, Ami Gada and Julian Dash.

One is a Boston lawyer (Blazejewski), another is also a lawyer but best known in Rhode Island political circles as a prolific blogger (Jerzyk), a third is a Harvard graduate student commuting from Providence (Gada). But soon after the press release went out, Blazejewski struck Ahern's name from the list.

A Democratic National Convention delegate, student coordinator for the Obama campaign and founding member of the local Drinking Liberally, Ahern has not been actively involved with the group since her hiring last month as a $46,591, one-year law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Maureen McKenna Goldberg.

Asked if the candidates actually intend to drink liberally, their spokesmen responded as follows:

Lynch campaign spokesman Mike Mikus said: "These are the people who are very important to campaigns because they are more or less the boots on the ground, the people who will get out and go door-knocking.'' Would Lynch imbibe? "He will be there to speak." But will he imbibe? "I don't expect this to be a rowdy bunch."

Chafee campaign coordinator Jim DeRentis also felt compelled to explain: "While the name may be confusing, this is an engaged part of the electorate who pay close attention to local and national politics." Would Chafee imbibe? "Liberally thinking, there'll be no drinking while generally speaking at Drinking Liberally," DeRentis said.

Caprio field coordinator Brian Bass said: "Frank looks forward to the evening and it would not surprise me if by the end of the evening he has a 'Gansett with the group."