........excellent, conservative-leaning Mayor (Laffey.......
Huh???
Laffey is a mayor of a meduim sized town, just like Chaffee had been.
Just because you are a hack mayor, gives no-one the credentials to become a Senator.
Chaffee has been an embarrassment as he had no big time credentials. Laffey would be the same idiot politician as Chaffee has proven to be, only worse.!
Actually, Stephen Laffey is conservative for a New England Republican. He would be a reasonably reliable vote for conservative causes in the Senate.
Problem is, he doesn't have a very good chance of winning.