I still say that Pat Toomey wouldn't endorse a socialist. And as for Laffey being "ambitious," he'll never be anything higher than U.S. Senator, so I don't see your concern.
And if a Democrat replaces Chafee in the Senate, I think we'd be better off than if Chafee stayed a Republican Senator. See http://auh2orepublican.blogspot.com/2005/08/what-to-do-about-insufferable-senator.html
I don't know Pat Toomey.
Unfortunately I do know Laffey because up to about a year ago, he was the great hope of Rhode Island conservatives.
Then his policies became known and conservatives abandoned him.
Whitehouse would be better than Chafee. There was some talk of Bob Weygand running but that hasn't materialized. For a dem, Weygand wouldn't be too bad, almost like Leiberman.
I'll be happy just to see Chafee go down.
Better an admitted enemy than a traitor within.