GOP Likes Chafee As Best Chance in R.I.

[deadparrot]

WARWICK, R.I. - Liberal Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) refused to support President Bush in the last election, opposed the GOP tax cuts and was the only Republican to vote against the use of military force in Iraq, a war he has likened to Vietnam.

So why, a year before the election, is the GOP embracing Chafee and spending close to $200,000 on television ads aimed at undercutting his conservative rival in the Republican primary, Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey?

Like him or not, Republicans consider Chafee their best chance to win in heavily Democratic Rhode Island.

Brian Nick, spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said it is "ridiculous" that Laffey is running against "the only Republican that can keep the seat in the Senate." The committee is financing the ads and urging Laffey to abandon the race.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051115/ap_on_el_se/rhode_island_republican

[afdip]

1. sometimes the devil you know is better than the devil you don't know

[davidinalameda]

2. does the good mayor have a website

I want to send him a donation

[montanacowboy]

3. and just why in "heavily Democratic RI"

is a Repuke Senator elected? because of his name?

Liberal? when did he split with his repuke party? ever?

RI, get the hell rid of this guy

[Demoiselle]

4. I really like Chafee a lot. Let's unseat him.

Sad thing is, the "moderate" Repukes from the liberal states are, by the numbers at least, the most vulnerable. And majority control of the agenda is by the numbers too. Get rid of Chafee, Snow, Collins, we're that much closer to control.

[hack89]

5. As a Rhode Islander perhaps I can help...

Moderate republicans have routinely been elected to high political office here - we have had two consecutive republican governors for example. While we are a democratic state we are not necessarily a liberal state - one reason is that we are the most Catholic state in the country. There is also a heavy concentration of defense industries and retired military. So any Republican that can walk the moderate line and is perceived as being fundamentally honest can be elected. Once elected, we tend to reward any politician who 'brings home the bacon' which Chafee does very well.

[MidwestTransplant]

6. I met Matt Brown. Seems like a very sincere, honest politician

What is your opinion?

[hack89]

7. I have never met him personally..

but he has a good reputation. He has never been associated with any of the shady dealings routinely emanating from the legislature which says a lot for a rhode island politician. I can see myself voting for him.

[artfan]

8. Also

I find that here in RI we tend to like our Republicans liberal and our democrats conservative.

Laffey is a grandstander and very much a loose cannon. I think he is an ass but The GOP would fear him because it is unlikely he will do what he is told any more than Chafee and will never support the wild republican spending

[montanacowboy]

10. That is the problem I guess

it's too bad - when will a time come that moderate republicans break away and join the Democrats - surely they must see the difference now

[Chemical Bill]

12. We have some really sleazy state democrats here.

I don't necessarily agree that we are a conservative state. People look at the state house and see sleazy dems. I think that tips people toward voting for a repug like Chafee. I won't vote for him, knowing how that helps keep the repugs in power in the senate, but many people don't see the big picture.

BTW, yes, I know we have some really sleazy state repugs here too. Maybe the appearance of propriety is all it takes. Chafee seems honest.

Bill

[hack89]

17. I didn't mean to imply that we are a conservative state..

but rather that there are enough conservative/moderate voters to elect a republican in state wide elections.

[Blue_Tires]

26. just for the record

Chafee is the son of a longtime and well-loved senator...

His environmental record exceeds most of the 'greenest' dems

[MidwestTransplant]

9. I think it comes down to Laffey would get his clock cleaned

and while the Republicans may not like Chaffee, at least he caucuses with them.

[Chemical Bill]

13. I think you got it right. n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

11. It may make the difference between the majority/minority.

Electing Chafee could mean electing Frist.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

14. Lincoln Chafee should switch parties or become a Democrat

Really, he should do a Jeffords. He is one of the most liberal Republicans, which is befitting of representing the bluest of blue states and he is reviled by other Republicans Senators for his stands. It would be great if he just switched parties. Life is so miserable under this Republican rule that many that may have voted for him just because they think he is an ok guy might switch because of the larger picture.

[Chemical Bill]

15. I've tried to tell him that, but he won't listen.

I wonder if they told him they won't anthrax him as long as he doesn't switch parties.

Bill

[safi0]

21. In Pre-Election 2004 Chaffee

Wanted to have his cake and eat it too. He wanted to remain a member of the majority party, but also wanted to have an easy re-election campaign. The only way for that to happen would be if the Democrats won the Senate or it was 50-49 and him switching would've shifted the balance. When we didn't do very good in the 04 Senate electionshe had a choice to make and its obvious that he's made his bed.

[JWS]

23. He almost did that in 04, but when the dems didn't gain the senate

he didn't. I'm guessing if we get close to winning the Senate in 06, he'll switch. Or... if we do win the Senate. I have this idea that he's only a REpublican for the power. It's probably his idea to only be in the party with the majority -give him more power and priviglege to do with as he pleases. No matter, I find him a fair Senator, but I would probably never support him as a Republican.

[flaminbats]

24. it helps to have at least one progressive in the other party

That gives voters in R.I. two choices for the Senate in November! :wow:

[safi0]

25. If we take back the

Senate in 06 the likelihood is very high that were going to be referring to Chaffee as former Senator.

[Charlie Brown]

16. Not from RI, but if Chaffee votes for Alito

he's not moderate in the least. That goes for Biden, Feingold, and Leahy as well.

[UDenver20]

18. Because Chafee...

... is a REAL Republican....

[formernaderite]

19. He could easily be defeated by a democrat

the same way that Lieberman came into office. I recall William Buckley and his boys backing Lieberman because the repub was too far left...can't believe I've forgotten which repub he replaced. Now I'm sure many here will argue we made out worse having Lieberman...aint' politics fun.

[Hippo_Tron]

20. I don't think that Matt Brown or Sheldon Whitehouse will be like Joe

But I can't say that I'm 100% sure of that.

[Awsi Dooger]

22. It's just a case of properly handicapping the state and race

In a heavy red or even moderately red state they would give Chafee the unceremonial boot in a primary and never think twice. In Rhode Island they know Laffey would be rejected, especially given the added factor of incumbency via Chafee and none of that with Laffey.

We just need to make sure and do the same, back the proper nominee given the individual state. I'm thinking specifically of Hackett and not Brown in Ohio. The partisanship of the state needs to be understood and prioritized, not who we would prefer in office.