Posted on 06/22/2006 2:46:39 PM PDT by Gothmog
Next week is a big one for Senator Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island: He must decide whether he's going to run for re-election as a Republican or as an independent. The deadline is 4 pm on Wednesday — almost exactly a week from right now. If Chafee doesn't believe he can win the GOP primary against challenger Steven Laffey, he may decide to forgo the whole thing and create a three-way race between himself, Laffey, and presumptive Democratic nominee Sheldon Whitehouse. This would create an interesting dilemma for Elizabeth Dole and the NRSC, which has already pumped a lot of cash into Chafee's re-election: Would they still support a guy who doesn't want to compete for their own party's nod?Under Rhode Island law, Chafee wouldn't actually have to drop his formal Republican affiliation: He could still say that he's a member of the party, but that he's not seeking its nomination. This may not pass the smell test, but since when has Chafee ever been required by Washington's GOP establishment to pass the smell test?
Ping
Interesting. I had no idea Laffey was doing so well. If he wasn't there would be no speculation.
Now he's that really vacant stupid one right?
Since Chaffee rode point for the crowd looking for a quick way out of Iraq...
If I were Dole, I would ask for the money back...saying he STOLE those funds by pretending to be a Republican.
Or...just cut their loses...and get more funds..and possibly Pres. Bush to endorse Laffey.
which is exactly why the NRSC will never see another dime of my money. I'LL DECIDE where my hard-earned dollars will go.
RI is just a province of MA.
Chafee is the reason I did not contribute to the NRSC this year... I'm targeting all my donations to specific candidates... and Steve Laffey is one of them.
I believe Chaffee voted for either Kerry's cut and run bill or the other one (forgot who sponsored it)
I do not like what Elizabeth Dole has done at the NRSC.
"He chose poorly."
Too bad he didn't share the same consequence for that as the guy in the movie.
Leapin' Linc Chafee Dish voted for the cut-and-jog resolution. Russ el-Slimeroad and Ketchup Boy couldn't even get a majority of the DemonRATs to vote for their retreat-and-defeat one.
It would make very little sense for Chafee to run as an Independent. There is no chance he could win as an Independent if he cannot win the GOP primary in the first place. The Democrats planning to vote for Whitehouse will stick with Whitehouse regardless and he's already polling in the low 40s. Any Republicans who would vote Laffey in the GOP primary certainly aren't gonna suddenly 'see the light' and vote for Chafee as an Independent over Laffey as the Republican nominee. That would be absurd. So, it's just stupid IMO for Chafee to think he'd be better off running as an Independent. No way.
I hope he switches to independent. He and the Democrat will split the liberal vote and the Republican will get all the conservative votes. We may end up with a real Republican as a senator!
It's unfortunate that Chafee isn't man enough to join up with the communists.
Isn't Chaffee leading that race easily?
He was one of the 39 that voted for Levin's "no fixed timetable" bill--I believe the only (alleged) Republican to do so. Jumpin' Jim Jeffords voted for it as well.
Liddy Dole, are you listening? He backstabbed your President, he broke ranks with your party. Are you still going to give him your time and money? I wouldn't.
}:-)4
Chaffee/Sanders '08
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