PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Victor Moffitt ran an underdog campaign for the Republican nomination for Rhode Island governor in 2010, garnering 30 percent of the vote to his opponent’s 70 percent in the primary. His signature proposal, to build a world-class aquarium as a way to spur the state’s economy, drew eye-rolls from opponents, one of whom called it a gimmick.

Since his loss, Moffitt has launched another quixotic quest: to make his dream of building an aquarium in the Ocean State a reality.