I refuse to believe that voting for Chafee, or any other RINO of such distinction, benefits the conservative movement. Yes, I shudder to think of Democrats holding the Senate, but as Miss Coulter said, Chafee may be so dumb that he doesn't realize he is a Democrat. Experience would tend to confirm this, would it not?
If the Senate is 50-50 after the next election, and Chafee is re-elected, I fully expect him to pull a Jeffords and change parties... he has hinted about this in the past. He won't jump now because it doesn't work to his advantage.
Alternatively, if the Donks take over the White House in '08, and the Senate is 51 GOP and 49 Donk, Chafee will jump ship then, too.