Langevin Rules Out U.S. Senate Campaign (Rhode Island)

http://www.turnto10.com/politics/4308825/detail.html ^ | 3/22/05

[LdSentinal]

News Channel 10 has learned that U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin will not run for U.S. Senate in 2006.

The Democrat was considering a run for the seat now held by Sen. Lincoln Chafee.

A Brown University poll in February indicated that Langevin could have beaten Chafee, a Republican.

Chafee has confirmed he will seek re-election in 2006. Rhode Island Secretary of State Matt Brown has already begun his campaign for the seat.

[LdSentinal]

Ping

[Kuksool]

So much for the tolerance level of RATS. They recruit pro-life RATS only against vulnerable pro-life Republicans. I didn't expect Chafee to be seriously challenged. After all, Chafee is the MSM's favorite Republican.

[nj26]

In DUmmyland, they're saying a Kennedy is looking to get into the race.

Given the level of conservative anger toward Chafee (with his refusal to vote for GWB last year), I wouldn't bet on any outcome.

[JohnBovenmyer]

This might work out ok. I read somewhere that a real Republican (there still are a few in the state) was considering running a primary challenge to Chaffee, but only if he thought he had a chance to win in the general election. Langevin was supposedly the strongest Rat option. So Chaffee might get some conservative opposition and might actually lose the primary while his natural supporters (the Rats) are feuding in their own primary. If we end up losing the seat of the biggest RHINO (by voting record, not by ego or media image) in the Senate it won't be a big loss. If the Rats run week primary candidates, expecting to lose to Chaffee, but Chaffee loses the primary, we may get a pleasant surprise.

[JohnnyZ]

Here comes Patrick Kennedy.

[iceemonster]

I thought Patrick Kennedy had declined earlier?

[Sonny M]

So far I'll admit, I do like one of the ideas the RATS have for getting rid of Chafee, only because it will make other rino's think for a minuit what crossing the aisle really means.

Basically, the dem strategy is, Chafee is a joke, and a laughing stock, to the republicans, and to the democrats. He antagonizes the white house, and if your going to be a republican, you might as well get something for your state, and if your going to vote liberal, then just cross over.

They are basically mocking him for being one of them, but having a different lable, implying he is to stupid to know which party he belongs to.

There is no doubt, win or lose, if the GOP makes sure every Rino sees whats going on with Chaffee, it might convince then, their best interests are to hew towards conservatives.

[Sonny M]

Here comes Patrick Kennedy

Didn't he already make it clear he wasn't?

There were tons of rumors about why he declined, you could do a whole column on them alone, with most of them having credibility.

[KillBill]

Good. Langevin would have beaten Chafee. Period. Now we will likely get another Kennedy (I think this one is Patrick), who has plenty of "issues" and will probably do as well as that Kennedy running in 2002 in Maryland (hint: she lost).

[ChuckK]

Patrick Kennedy eyes Senate only if fellow R.I. rep declines

[ChuckK]

It'll be interesting to see whether the possibility of another Kennedy in the Senate would create actual conservative suport for Chafee

[JohnnyZ]

Didn't he already make it clear he wasn't?

Ya I think so but then there was this article about Kennedy reconsidering if Langevin didn't run. And lo and behold Langevin isn't running .... and a matchup with Chafee is probably one of the few statewide contests Patches could be fairly sure of winning.

[DM1]

THe Cranston mayor is a more conservative R (more so than Chafee that is for sure) and if he ran he MAY have won.
that being said i do not know if he will

[AuH2ORepublican]

"a matchup with Chafee is probably one of the few statewide contests Patches could be fairly sure of winning."

---

But conversely, a matchup with patches is one of the few contests that Chafee could win while remaining a "Republican."

But I still stand by my opinion that we should force Chafee to quit the party and become a Democrat. See http://dalythoughts.com/index.php?p=2827

[nutmeg]

Rhode Island ping!

Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Rhode Island ping list.

[Clintonfatigued]

There is one real pro-life Republican contemplating the race. Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey is a possible candidate, and he already has a record of winning cross-over Democrats in his mayoral elections. And I think he could beat Patrick Kennedy or Matt Brown.