By John E. Mulligan

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown will square off, loosely speaking, against another formerly obscure state legislator - President Obama - when he appears in Rhode Island on Oct. 25 to campaign for the GOP congressional candidate John J. Loughlin II.

Brown, a Republican who may have foreshadowed big GOP gains in Congress by winning the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's old seat last January, will headline a $500-a-head luncheon for Loughlin a few hours before Mr. Obama headlines a pair of fundraisers, partly for Democrat David N. Cicilline, also in Providence.

Loughlin, a state representative from Tiverton, is, of course, another local lawmaker whose target is a longtime Kennedy seat. He is running against Providence Mayor Cicilline to replace retiring Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy in the 1st Congressional District.

Brown is to appear for Loughlin at the East Side home of Tara and Bruce Pinsky. Mr. Obama's events will be at the Providence Civic Center ($500-a-head) and the East Side home of Cicilline supporters Arnold "Buff'' Chace Jr. and Johnnie Chace ($7,500-a-head). The take will be split with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Brown is to go out campaigning with Loughlin after the luncheon, campaign spokeswoman Cara Cromwell said.