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The Lieberman phenomenon, where a partisan base closes ranks around the ‘true partisan’ candidate, seems to be at work in Rhode Island, as it was on the Democratic side in Connecticut.

Leiberman is 99% pure Liberal, and loyal to his party. The fact he stands for protection of this country doesn't equate him to a Liberal Republican, out of sync even with the more Liberal Republicans in the Senate, that has NEVER demonstrated any loyalty whatsoever. And, Laffey isn't even CLOSE to partisan.

That stated...WooHoo!!

Chafee gives us NO advantage. He'd stick a knife in our backs in a split Senate, and he commands campaign funding and activity that should be used in better races. Why the hell the GOP has rushed protect this worthless RINO rather then funnel more to Santorum, Steele, Bouchard, House seats (and challengers like Irey) etc...is beyond me. They have been slitting their own throats when supposedly their job is to protect the Majority of their caucus. I'll bet the rest of the Republicans on the Hill could have made far better use of that money and the First Lady's campaign stops.

Yet, don't underestimate the crossover Dems Chafee has signed up to vote for him. Also, like they did for Specter, the GOP has sent in its hired activists to tend to this race.

The Lieberman phenomenon, where a partisan base closes ranks around the ‘true partisan’ candidate, seems to be at work in Rhode Island, as it was on the Democratic side in Connecticut.

Well...it isn't quite the Lieberman phenomenon. The Democrat partisans were far smarter in their choice of targets. In Connecticut, a Democrat will continue to hold a Democrat seat. In RI, the phenomenon will result in a Democrat taking a Republican seat. Is that what the 'partisan' base wants?

Why the hell the GOP has rushed protect this worthless RINO rather then funnel more to Santorum, Steele, Bouchard, House seats (and challengers like Irey) etc...is beyond me.

Because the GOP realizes that Chaffee can win, and Laffey can not. Unlike the partisans, the GOP knows that the keeping control of the Senate is an important goal. The partisans seem to think they would have more luck advancing their agenda in a Democrat controlled Senate.