By STEVE PEOPLES
Journal State House Bureau

He has yet to make a final decision, but state Rep. David A. Segal's potential candidacy in the race to replace Patrick Kennedy has drawn the interest of a Washington-based political action committee.

The leaders of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee traveled to Rhode Island this weekend to visit with Segal, who would become one of "four or five" candidates nationwide to earn a PCCC endorsement should he decide to run in Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District, according to one of the organization's co-founders, Stephanie Taylor.

"We see David Segal as a stronger fighter for workers, more of a bold progressive, and less of a typical political insider than those currently in the race," Taylor said Monday afternoon. "We think voters will find that very appealing."

Segal confirmed this afternoon that he will make a formal decision "in the next week or so."

"I am very strongly considering running and looking at pulling a campaign together," said Segal, 30, a former Providence city councilman who has served in the state House of Representatives since 2007.

A member of Smith Hill's Progressive Caucus, Segal could cause problems for other candidates in what may be a four-way Democratic primary election in less than five months.

Former state Democratic Party Chairman William Lynch and current Providence Mayor David N. Cicilline have declared. And Lincoln businessman Anthony Gemma confirmed late last week that he was "strongly considering" a bid.

The primary election winner would likely face Republican state Rep. John J. Loughlin, II, of Tiverton.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee is a relatively new political organization that offers campaign expertise and an extensive donor network to "progressive, bold and respected" candidates, according to the organization's other co-founder, Adam Green.

Green said his organization has already helped direct $150,000 -- primarily in small donations of between $10 and $15 -- to Arkansas Lt. Gov. Bill Halter, who is challenging incumbent Sen. Blanche Lincoln in a May 18 Democratic primary.

Both Green and Taylor previously worked on for the liberal political organizationMoveOn.org.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee has already purchased advertisements on local Web sites that utilize Facebook and Twitter to help market a Segal candidacy and enlist campaign volunteers.

Green said today that more than 100 people have already signed up to volunteer.

"If David Segal runs, it will be a different kind of campaign," Green said.