Another thread addressed the tactical imperatives of all this.
There is no need for Chaffee in the Republican Party. There IS a need for Chaffee's seat in the Republican Party. If the RI GOP voters can select a more conservative candidate to defeat Chaffee for the senatorial nomination primary, and have that alternate candidate poll well in head to head matchups vs the Dem opponent, then the GOP would get behind that alternate.
In the absence of such a reality, however, Chaffee continues to cast the most important vote any Senator casts in a session properly -- for the Majority Leader. The ML defines what bills come to the floor and is who sets the agenda. As long as Chaffee's seat, not necessarily him but his seat, votes GOP for ML, that tells the tale. Holding that seat matters.
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Absolutely correct.