tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501157.post116314406382626742..comments2023-10-20T04:46:07.365-04:00Comments on The Rhode Islander: Cry of the RINORoger Williamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14308664674325717623noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501157.post-54798494872133818712006-11-13T10:27:00.000-05:002006-11-13T10:27:00.000-05:00Lefty raised a good point (in meatspace, not on th...Lefty raised a good point (in meatspace, not on this blog) about Chafee's name recognition being good enough to challenge Patches Kennedy in two years (he'll have to move to the district, but that's no problem). Would he accept the "demotion"?Roger Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14308664674325717623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12501157.post-1163162491591016552006-11-10T07:41:00.000-05:002006-11-10T07:41:00.000-05:00While I understand that Chafee might be the only R...While I understand that Chafee might be the only Republican in Rhode Island who considers him a Republican I think you're a bit hard on the defeated Senator here. <BR/><BR/>First off, why did Lincoln Chafee lose? <BR/><BR/>Having a tough Primary fight with Laffey certainly didn't help. In a Primary challenge you have to appeal to your party's base, something the liberal Chafee has trouble doing. Chafee won not because he appealed to all Republicans but because the people who voted in the primary (a group that consisted of Republicans, Democrats and Independents)felt Laffey couldn't defeat Sheldon Whitehouse in the general election. IF Chafee had been unopposed in the primary he could have spent less money and instead of courting the Republican vote could have concentrated on a 'centrist' message. I think Chafee makes a good point when he says that Laffey could have run for a number of other seats. Why oppose Chafey when there are other positions with no Republicans running at all?<BR/><BR/>Certainly the anti-Republican sentiment is a factor in Chafee's loss, he got 171,363 votes(46%)in a state where less than 70,000 people are registered as Republican. If Chafee doesn't appeal to Democrats and Independents he doesn't win - period. Should Chafee have switched parties or (as I suggested) run as an independent? I think you can make a good argument for it, but certainly there are people who voted for Whitehouse not because they liked him better but simply because it would shift the majority to the Democrats in the next congress.<BR/><BR/><BR/>I never considered it before the election but yes, even Question One, for the Warwick Casino hurt Chafee. Because there was a huge "get out the vote" by organizations in favor of and against the casino Rhode Island enjoyed a large voter turnout, not good for a man Running Republican in liberal state. How many more votes did each candidate get because of higher voter turnout? Chances are the majority went to Whitehouse.<BR/><BR/>With Chafee losing by only 26,000 votes I think if you remove any two of these issues Chafee beats Whitehouse. <BR/><BR/>Lincoln Chafee has a good record, strong recognition and is well liked in Rhode Island. Sounds like a man who should be in politics! So what's in Chafee's future?<BR/>Six years is a long time to wait to challenge Sheldon Whitehouse to get your old job back, but in 2008 Chafee could challenge Senator Jack Reed, which would be tough or U.S. Reps. Kennedy and Langevin, which could be easier. With no incumbent to run against a run for Governor in 2010 might be more enticing and hold more prestige. Then again you could always suggest Chafee run for Mayor of Fall River!RJRhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04922334106888250908noreply@blogger.com