When the Moderate Party achieved “state recognition” earlier this year, Rhode Island political insiders wondered whether the group would harm the state GOP more than the Democratic Party.

A quick look at the third quarter fundraising reports shows that the fear could already be a reality.

The fledgling Moderate Party of Rhode Island had just under $29,000 in its campaign coffers when the third quarter financing reports were due earlier this month. The struggling Republican Party had slightly more than $30,000.

The Moderate Party didn’t have the benefit of the “check off” fundraising, which allows Republican and Democratic Party members to check a box on their income taxes and donate a small amount of money to the State GOP.

Former Democrat operative and newly appointed Moderate Party Executive Director Christine Hunsinger said that the group was pleased with its fundraising efforts thus far.

“We’re doing great. Given how long we’ve been a party, under three months, and what it challenge this is, I’d say we’re doing really well,” said Hunsinger.

The Moderate Party’s economic platform is largely similar to the national Republican Party’s, and comments from state Republican leaders (the state GOP has no platform). Their economic platform emphasizes tax cuts, and lower government spending on pensions and social services.

In a legislative race Moderate and Republican candidates could easily split votes to give the Democrat the victory. It’s ironic, because party founder Ken Block always talks about the need to decrease the Democratic stronghold in the state legislature.

But Republican Party Chairman Gio Cicione, emboldened by Tuesday’s mayoral victory in Woonsocket for the first time since the Civil War Era, said he doesn’t think the Moderate Party is a threat to the GOP.

Cicione described the Moderate Party as a glorified cult of personality.

“It’s the ‘Ken Block Party’,” said Cicione.

“I believe Mr. Block has funded 60 percent of the party’s operation and that more than two thirds of the money comes from two zip codes, East Greenwich and Barrington. That’s hardly a grass roots movement that represents Rhode Island.”

Cicione admitted that he would be concerned with the scenario of the Moderate Party candidate siphoning votes away from the GOP candidate, but said he’s not sure that will be the case.

“I think the Moderate Party is finding out that it’s a lot harder to recruit candidates than they thought it was. Look at how hard it is for them to find a candidate for Governor,” said Cicione.

The Moderate Party, recently asked Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian to run for Governor under their party’s banner. Avedisian declined.

“It is true that the Moderate Party has asked me to run for Governor. I have told them that I continue to support Lincoln Chafee,” said Avedisian in an email.

Former U.S. Attorney Robert Corrente has also recently rebuked the Moderate Party.

Earlier this fall, Cicione told the Beacon<$> that the party would definitely field a candidate for Governor. During an appearance on channel 12 Newsmakers a few weeks ago, Block changed his tune, saying he hoped to fund a candidate.

Husinger, when interviewed yesterday, said Cicione should be concerned with the Moderate Party.

“Mr. Block did start this party with his own money, but he did so out of the same frustrations that other ordinary, non-political, Rhode Islanders have,” said Hunsinger.

“Mr. Cicione wouldn’t know what a grass roots effort is.”

Block came under criticism earlier this week for a questionable donation he made to the Moderate Party. State law says political donations to political parties cannot exceed $10,000. Block however, donated $10,000 to the party and $10,000 to the Barrington City Committee, which in turn gave the money to the state party.

Democrat activists have said that move represents a skirting of state law at least in principle.

Hunsinger said the accusation is a desperate attempt by the party in power to stay that way.

“There is no way you’d be able to start a third party without raising money in this way. This is a way for the powerful to keep the underdog down,” said Hunsinger.