A way to elect an additional Democrat in Rhode Island - ROVE STYLE

[jackbourassa]

Poll question: A way to elect an additional Democrat in Rhode Island - ROVE STYLE

As many of you may know, Matt Brown has dropped out of the race for the Senate in Rhode Island. Thus, former Attorney-General Whitehorse is uncontested in the Democratic Primary.

As many of you may know, Senator Lincoln Chaffee (REP.) is facing a primary challenge from Steve Laffey - who is a much more ardent (some may say CRAZY) type of Republican. Laffey is actually doing well in the polls.

As many of you may know, the state of Rhode Island has an open primary system. Which means that either Democrats or Republicans or Independents can vote in any primary of their choosing.

As many of you may know, according to Survey USA, George W. Bush is least popular in the state of Rhode Island. Making this AN EXCELLENT PICK UP OPPORTUNITY!!!!!!

Put all of these facts together and you have a potential of a guarantee for a Democratic pick-up come November. How? Well, if every Rhode Island Democrat voted for Laffey in the Republican primary (and of couse, voted for Whitehorse in the general) - we could provide enough votes to give him the victory over Chaffee, and we neutralize the support NARAL and the Sierra Club have given Chaffee. Thus, come November Whitehorse will trounce Laffey and we guarantee ourselves a seat.

Who's with me?

[MADem]

1. You should put this in the RI forum.

RI is a great state, but most here aren't from there.

[jackbourassa]

3. People don't always visit the state forums...

But i'm sure many people here are from Rhode Island. Also, I was hoping that some of us non-Rhode Islanders would give them some encouragement.

[Greeby]

2. Even though I'm not a RI voter, or a US voter for that matter

I ain't putting my support to any plan that doesn't feature Carl Sheeler



:patriot:

[gaspee]

4. I'm from RI

And I'm voting Sheeler in the democratic primary, but he's not going to win. It's all about the name recognition and unless Sheeler can get more name recognition, he won't have a chance in the primary.

My brother in law is friends with Whitehouse and he is a campaign advisor, but I'm still voting for Sheeler.

I'm afraid Chafee's going to win. I actually like Chaffee and would vote for him if he didn't have that R next to his name. My biggest disagreement with him was on that bankruptcy bill and his support of the patriot act, well, and his rubber-stamping most of Chimpy's court picks. But Chafee's got a better voting record, imo, than about 10 democrats (for starters, both Nelson's and Lieberman.)

I kind of hope Laffee wins the primary and Chafee runs as an Independent in the general.

Whitehouse is probably less liberal that Chafee and I trust Chafee's personal character better than I do Sheldon's. It's a tough choice, but my primary vote for Sheeler is a no brainer.

[skipos]

6. Who are the 10 democratic senators that Chaffee is better than?

I think Nelson, who is the most conservative democrat in my opinion, has a slightly better voting record than Chaffee overall.

Whitehouse would be many times better than Chaffee.

[gaspee]

7. Not on

The issues that matter to me. The environment, pro-choice, anti-marriage ammendment.

Like I said, I'd vote for Chafee if he ran as an independent. I've met both men and I don't really like Whitehouse. Something I can't name, but I don't like him. If he wins the primiary though, I'll hold my nose and vote for him.

No matter how much I like Chafee, I won't vote for anyone with that R next to their name.

I'm about the most liberal person I know in a very liberal state. If I'd vote for Chafee, you've got to understand how hard it would be to beat him.

If Democrats had a clear majority in both the Senate and the house, I would for for Chafee and not vote for Langevin (Rep.)

[skipos]

9. "I don't really like Whitehouse. Something I can't name..."

but then you will "hold your nose" to vote for him? When I think a candidate stinks so bad I need to hold my nose to vote for him, I try to have concrete reasons. Or is this just one of those situations where you don't want to have a beer with him, therefore you don't want to vote for him? There are a lot of those voters out there.

Still waiting on the list of 10 democratic senators than Chaffee trumps.

[gaspee]

10. And you can keep waiting...

Actaully I don't like Whitehouse because he's an old school machine politician. And I get the impression that he's phony. And yes, I've met him in social situations.

RI is a very small place. I've met all of our local pols. In groups small and large.

I don't like the way our system is going to dictate that I vote for someone I don't want to vote for because of national concerns. I'd love to vote based on who would represent RI best, but because our whole system is two party based and I can't live with a republican senate, I'm going to have to vote for the candidate I don't prefer.

On second thought, let me give you a list of Dems I would never vote for. Both Nelsons, Feinstein (didn't vote for her when I lifed in SF,) Landreiu, Rockerfeller, Byrd, Clinton, Baucus and if I went looking for records, I could find a few more.

If a Senator votes angainst abortion rights, for the marriage ammendment or voted for the war, I'd have a hard time voting for them.

And I don't vote on who I want to have a beer with. I vote based on personal integrity and compatible views with my own. If there were a green party candidate that were viable, that's where my vote would go. My first concern is the environment, then war, then women's rights, then equality for lgbt (anything less gives an entire segment of the population as less than,) then equal oportunity and so on down the line.

On political mapping tests, I usually score to the left of Ghandi. And I'd still choose Chaffee over whitehouse if it were truly my choice. And that's speaking as someone who has met both of them.

[skipos]

11. Thanks anyway.

[NJ Democrats]

5. Vote Sheeler not Whitehouse!

But otherwise I agree with your idea.

[calimary]

8. Truly. What's wrong with supporting Carl Sheeler? He's one of us.

If I were in Rhode Island, he'd get my vote.

[jackbourassa]

12. I meant to say Whitehouse...

How can you tell i'm not from Rhode Island.