First off, Bob Carr knows he doesn’t have a chance — but that’s kind of the point.

The numbers just aren’t there. The support isn’t there on the state level, though he said he’s got his fair share across Tiverton and Little Compton. And the money is certainly not there when one declines to take donations while going up against established politicians spending $60 million or more on the race for Rhode Island governor.

But Carr, a Tiverton farmer who launched a write-in campaign in June after failing to get enough signatures to get on the ballot, said those obstacles are good examples of why he decided to do something none of his friends ever expected him to do — run for the state’s highest elected office. The state needs the voice of the little guy, he said. And if nothing else, he hopes he’s making people think.

How has the local response been to your decision to run for governor?

“I think these towns, these communities, when their own is up against something they really come and take care of you. People started calling me up right out of the blue when I decided to run; lots of people I haven’t talked to in a long time told me they were happy I was doing it. It’s been really good to see that support. This is a real community.”

What’s your message?

“That regular people need a change. Everyday things that you have to live with are just becoming too much; it’s one thing after another. Insurance, fees, regulations, fuel tax, payroll tax, it never stops. They’re all small things but they all add up more and more until you get to the end of your rope. It’s expensive to do the right thing and the people that we elect into office, they’ve got their eyes somewhere else and they’re not concerned about the things regular people have to deal with.”

How would you change that?

“I’d listen to people. I’m one of them; I’d work to get rid of all the things that are squeezing regular people. There’s so much.”

Has it been difficult to get your message out there?

“It’s really difficult. You can’t reach the amount of people that you think you will. I’ve been pushing it on Facebook but that only goes so far. So it’s hard to get it out there but I try.”

What’s it been like meeting people over the past few months?

“People have been great, but it’s also not easy. I’ve met a lot of people and a lot of them have been really supportive; I was doing hayrides at Escobar’s Farm (in Portsmouth) and this guy came over, Joe from Bristol, and introduced himself. Really nice guy, he’s running for council in Bristol. It was nice to get that support. Early on when I was (asking for signatures) it turned into a red and a blue situation. A lot of people don’t care if it’s Pee-wee Herman or Gilligan running; it’s all about what color they are. I got to see a lot of that when I was trying to get my signatures. They ask what party you are in and I say I’m independent, and they put their hand up and dismiss me.”

Did you ever think you’d have a decent shot of winning the race?

“At the end of the day it doesn’t really make a difference. It’s a big thing — but if in some small way I can show through my campaign that we’re not going to lie down anymore … if even the smallest guy like myself, just a nobody from off the farm can take a stand … at the very least maybe someone who’s a better man than me can stand up and do something for us.”

Will you ever seek public office again? How about locally?

“I think small-town politics is worse than state politics; it just seems to be a lot more troublesome. I think I might try it (state office) again. Maybe we’ll do it different. I think if I try it next time, I’ll start maybe getting the word out the year before. No one’s stepping up but someone needs to.”