Republican group urges Laffey to challenge Chafee in primary

Providence Journal ^ | 5/24/05 | DANIEL BARBARISI

[nj26]

A group of Republicans statewide has organized a committee to encourage Cranston Mayor Stephen P. Laffey to challenge Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee in 2006.

There are 85 names on a letter given to Laffey yesterday, including 2000 gubernatorial candidate James Bennett, Cranston state Representatives Carol Mumford and James F. Davey, East Providence Mayor Joseph Larisa and members of city and town councils, party members and business people.

Former Cranston Republican City Committee Chairman Gary Vierra said that he and others -- mostly members of the Cranston GOP -- were behind the effort, which was launched two weeks ago. Vierra said the signers of the letter consider Chafee -- the most centrist of the Senate's Republicans -- does not represent their political views. Laffey is considered to be more conservative.

"I don't feel [Chafee] really represents the Republican ideals," Vierra said.

Yesterday, he presented the letter to the mayor, urging him to run.

"We believe that your qualifications, your record of achievement and your personal background make you the right person for the job at this critical time in our nation's history," the letter reads.

It also mentions Laffey's role in turning around Cranston's finances, and Laffey's background -- a public-school-educated son of a middle-class Cranston family who headed an investment banking firm -- as qualifications.

Laffey, who has been uncharacteristically tightlipped when his plans for future office are discussed, said only that he was honored when Vierra brought him the letter.

"I took it, I read it, and I just said, 'I'm honored, Gary,' " Laffey said. He said that knowing he has the support of prominent members of the party will be a big factor if he decides to run for the Senate.

"It does make me pause," he said. "I take it very, very seriously."

[nj26]

seems like an ideal outcome... a charismatic conservative (at least by RI standards) to challenge a wimpy RINO

[ForGod'sSake]

Republican group urges Laffey to challenge Chafee in primary

Go for it! There are a few more that need to see early retirement:

FGS

[madball]

Absolutely. We need to send a strong message to these RINO's. Go after one and the rest will toe the line. (I hope).

[penowa]

If this guy does get into the primary, I wonder if Chafee won't plead with the WH for money and for Bush to campaign with and for him (just like Specter did.) I know Chafee has behaved worse than Specter - at least Specter didn't tell the world he wasn't voting for Bush like Chafee did - but with the "new tone" maybe he'll be quickly forgiven since he's a sitting "R" and how can the Republicans in R.I. expect to keep the seat if there is a bruising primary?

[Just A Nobody]

ROTFLMBO - awesome!

[nj26]

I'm very curious how many of these Senators actually voted for Bush last November. I'm sure a few did, but I wonder if there were defectors beyond Chafee.