Kennedy, Chafee Could Face Off in R.I.

AP on Yahoo ^ | 3/26/05 | Lolita C. Baldor - AP

[NormsRevenge]

WASHINGTON - It would be the battle of the dynasties: Kennedy versus Chafee. The son of a Democratic icon against the son of a revered Republican senator and governor in the nation's smallest state.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) is considering a run against Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record) for the only congressional seat held by a Republican in heavily Democratic Rhode Island. The mere prospect of such a matchup next year has set tongues in motion.

"It would be a great race. The two are very evenly matched," said Brown University professor Darrell West, who has written a biography of Kennedy, 37. "Chafee is a sitting senator and people like him, but he has an 'R' next to his name in a 'D' state."

Kennedy, a six-term Democrat, initially ruled out running against Chafee, leaving the door open for his House colleague, Rep. James Langevin (news, bio, voting record). But Langevin opted out earlier this week, and now Kennedy is taking a second look.

A Kennedy-Chafee race could thrust Rhode Island into the national political spotlight.

Last year, Republicans gleefully showcased Kennedy's father, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., in ads for GOP Senate candidates — hoping the liberal lightning rod would energize conservatives to vote against him.

"If Kennedy runs, every group that hates the Kennedys will try to influence the Senate race," said West.

Meanwhile, Democrats are equally eager to put the power of the Kennedy family on the Senate ballot in a friendly New England state. Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Sen. Charles Schumer (news, bio, voting record) of New York already has talked to Patrick Kennedy.

The younger Kennedy, 37, will say only that he has "been asked by people I respect and admire to consider running for the United States Senate." He said he has to balance that against his desire to continue to work on the House Appropriations Committee, where he can bring federal dollars back to the state.

Kennedy has been talking and meeting with family members, friends, staff and supporters, and may be readying a poll to gauge his support statewide.

Chafee, who turned 52 Saturday, is considered vulnerable. He was appointed to fill the vacancy left when his father, Sen. John Chafee, died in 1999. He won the seat in 2000 with 57 percent of the vote.

He has battled the GOP leadership, openly declared he did not vote for President Bush (news - web sites), and voted against the president on key war and budget issues. At the same time, he can attract some Democratic and independent voters with his strong support for environmental and abortion rights issues.

Chafee readily acknowledges the difficulties of being a red senator in a blue state. After the election last year, he said he will try to be as supportive as he can of his GOP leadership as he heads into the 2006 election cycle.

"If I need their help occasionally, I'm going to have to help them," he said. "But my convictions are dear to me and I think my state likes me to be independent."

A Brown University poll taken before Langevin dropped out showed him leading Chafee, 41 percent to 27 percent.

Kennedy's chief of staff, Sean Richardson, said a decision to run against Chafee is "not a decision that's going to be driven by polls. It's about where he believes he can do more for his constituents."

[NormsRevenge]

A Oct. 15, 2001 file photo of Rep. Patrick Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-R.I., right, and a March 1, 2001 file photo of Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record), R-R.I. It would be the battle of the dynasties: Kennedy versus Chafee. The son of a Democratic icon versus the son of a revered former Republican senator and governor of the nation's smallest state. Kennedy is considering a run against Chafee for the only congressional seat held by a Republican in heavily Democratic Rhode Island. The mere prospect of such a matchup has set tongues in motion from Warwick to Washington. (AP Photo/Files)

[Theodore R.]

Such a campaign would be a "mutual admiration society" meeting. I haven't the faintest idea where those two disagree on much of anything.

That would be an easy contest to "sit out" so as not to encourage either side.

[Poison Pill]

too bad they both can't lose

[Darkwolf377]

As a former resident I can say I'm glad I moved, or else I'd miss the chance to cast votes against both of these popsicle brains. Two spineless wimps with nothing going for them except the need to have something to do with their time.

[Paleo Conservative]

Since I live in Texas, I've never had the opportunity to vote against a Kennedy. If I ever lived in a state where a Kennedy was running, I'd definitely vote against the Kennedy.

[alloysteel]

Patrick Kennedy taking this seat would probably, in the long run, turn out to be a good thing.

A "RINO" is removed, and for this, we shall have to make up the slack by getting a more real (and realistic) Republican to take a seat now held by a Democrat elsewhere in 2006.

The newest Senator Kennedy would take a seat as a very junior member, in what is likely to be a minority party for many years to come, one whom the tide of history shall almost certainly pass by, and leave stranded in the shallows all his life.

[raccoonradio]

>>popsicle brains

Howie Carr's nickname for Patrick is Patches, as in the old Clarence Carter tune: "But I would remember what my daddy said/
With tears in his eyes on his dyin bed/
He said, "Patches, I'm depending on you son/
To pull the family through. My son it's all left up to you">

http://www.patrickkennedy.org

"Just Say 'NO' To Political Royalty ...Overall, our opinion is that Patrick Kennedy is very mediocre. Patrick Kennedy is a product of the Old Boy Network.
What's our beef? Patrick Kennedy works for himself and his cronies as Job #1. Politicians should work for the people, and not the other way around. But, Patrick Kennedy seems to use his elected position to consolidate his power above all else."

[Conservative Infidel]

That RINO Chafee could lose to "Patches" and we would see virtually no change in the voting practices for that senate seat.

[NormsRevenge]

I don't think the Founding Fathers would even be able to fathom what has become of their efforts to secure a nation based on laws and belief in God.

[Darkwolf377]

Patches (I've been a Howie listener from when I was a Jerry Williams listener) has no redeeming value. I can't think of one reason to vote for him. He's precisely what's wrong with our no-term-limited system.

[tuvals]

Question: What do you get when you have 2 Kennedy's sitting in the Unites States Senate at the same time? Answer:

[Poison Pill]

They are both bad. Here are the ACU ratings:

Representative Patrick Kennedy (D) 1 Congressional District, Rhode Island Democrat, Years of Service: 10 ACU Ratings for Representative Kennedy: Year 2004 8 Year 2003 21 Lifetime 12

Senator Lincoln CHAFEE (R) Rhode Island Republican, Years of Service: 5 ACU Ratings for Senator CHAFEE: Year 2004 40 Year 2003 35 Lifetime 41

[Maceman]

"It would be a great race. The two are very evenly matched

Dumb and dumber

-

[Theodore R.]

Well, Chafee has a higher ACA rating than I would have thought: I would have guessed: 15.

[ran15]

Seems like North Easterners love dynasties. It goes with their general ideology.. of regulated monopolies, and regulated unions. Reserved seats at the most prestigious schools..

More then anywhere in America, the new england states it seems to be which family you are born into, matters much more then your abilities and drive. If you are born into a police family, its obvious what you are going to be when you grow up... Or a Senator's family.

[hosepipe]

Ummmm, a not so steatlth republican mole(spy, turncoat, anti-american, traitor) against an actual dyed in the wool democrat(in your face; anti-american, traitor)... Should TAX the mind of Rhode Islanders.. All one of them has to do is mutter "I WILL TAX the freepin bee-jesus out of the other American States".. and he should win handily.. The word TAX is like the word "RoseBud"(Citizen Kane) to Rhode Islanders... They turn into ravenous Canine Bitches..

[Poison Pill]

True. 41 is pretty bad but is better that 12. It is hard to beat a Kennedy at their own game. I'm not familiar with RI politics. Do they have a conservative they can run who has chance?

[HostileTerritory]

Seems like North Easterners love dynasties.

This is a problem everywhere in the country. Florida just elected Connie Mack III to the House, Lawton Chiles' son was looking at running for governor, and if Jeb Bush had a different last name he'd be a real estate developer in Miami. South Carolina prides itself on maintaining aristocratic families over the generations, and Strom Thurmond's kids have been active in politics. Shelley Moore Capito's father was a Governor, Ohio has its Tafts, Minnesota has its Humphreys, Tennessee provided work for two generations of Gores, and Missouri elected a second generation of Blunts AND Carnahans in the most recent election. The Udalls infest three different states in the southwest; Sen. Gordon Smith of Oregon is a cousin. Indiana elected two generations of Bayhs, Illinois's Attorney General is the daughter of the House Majority Leader, and in Wyoming Rep. Cubin's son is running for Auditor General. It goes on and on. Don't blame the northeast. The only reason it seems stronger here is because we have a lot fewer people moving here from other parts of the country, only international immigrants, so our political talent (and non-talent) is more focused in the same pool.