His father was decent. The son is a putz.
If Chaffe doesn't pussy-foot around like he's doing he'll get the boot. Seriously, Jack Reed is the senior senator from R.I. and even longtime senator John Chaffe began his career in the senate at a time when the Northeast was a lot more republican.
John may have been better at public relations, and he may have come across as more intelligent, but Lincoln actually has the better voting record.
The American Conservative Union gives John Chafee a lifetime rating of 32. Lincoln has a 41.