Wife of Convicted GOP Official Hired by Chafee Campaign

Interesting fact: In its latest filing to the Federal Election Commission, the campaign of Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I., lists $386,000 in payments for "consulting services" to a firm called Northeast Strategies LLC, listed on Kenduskeag Avenue in Bangor, Maine.

Tantalizing fact: The same Kenduskeag Avenue address is home to James Tobin, a former regional official of the Republican National Committee.

Eyebrow-raising fact: James Tobin was found guilty last year of criminally violating federal elections law, having participated in a scheme by New Hampshire Republicans to jam Democratic get-out-the-vote phone lines on Election Day 2002.

What does this all add up to? Well, not what you're thinking, according to Chafee's campaign.

Campaign manager Ian Lang said that Tobin has no role in the company or the Chafee campaign. Instead, he said, Northeast Strategies is made up of Tobin's wife, Ellen, and a political consultant, Kathie Summers.

James Tobin — who is appealing his December 2005 conviction — "is not involved at all," Lang said. He said that, in addition to Summers' expertise, the money pays for mailings and phone calls, as well as additional staff.

Summers confirmed Lang's account Friday. She said that she had worked on campaigns all over New England and that her company was built on her expertise in targeting and reaching nonaffiliated voters.

"It's messaging the independent voter," Summers said.

She said she spends three days a week in Rhode Island, and Ellen Tobin — a friend whom she recruited to her company during a ski trip — handles bookkeeping and administrative duties.

"There's no connection with Jim," Summers said. "I mean, I love Jim, but he's not involved in the company."

James Tobin was sentenced to 10 months in jail for his role in the phone-jamming scheme, which helped Sen. John Sununu (R) win a tight race against Democrat Jeanne Shaheen. Phone records show that Tobin called the White House more than 20 times after the scheme began — conversations that Democrats are seeking to learn more about in a civil lawsuit. The Republican National Committee has spent $3 million in legal fees in criminal and civil cases growing out of the controversy.