Pix of the most famous thing to ever come from rhode island.
Posted on 09/05/2006 7:46:48 AM PDT by TitansAFC
September 3, 2006
Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee (R ) has pulled to within two points of challenger Sheldon Whitehouse in his bid for re-election. The latest Rasmussen Reports poll in Rhode Island shows Whitehouse earning support from 44% of voters while Chafee attracts 42% (see crosstabs). Whitehouse had a six point lead last month.
Based upon this poll we are shifting the Rhode Island Senate race from “Leans Democrat” to “Toss-Up” in our Senate Balance of Power ratings. Rhode Island is the fifth race in the Toss-Up category.
Though he has his sights set on Whitehouse, Chafee must first face off against his primary challenger, Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey. The Providence Journal reports that Chafee has outspent Laffey $2.85 million to $1.18 million thus far as they head toward the September 12 showdown. The Whitehouse campaign will be cheering for Laffey on primary night, as the current poll shows Whitehouse leading that potential head-to-head contest 58% to 31%.
If Laffey defeats Chafee in the Republican Primary, this race will immediately be shifted to the Democrats column in our Senate Balance of Power ratings.
If you’d like to receive regular updates of Rasmussen Reports polling data, please sign up for our FREE weekly newsletter (see left column).
Chafee is taking some heat in the primary race, particularly from an Hispanic member of the state’s general assembly, for a television ad run by the National Republican Senatorial Committee that criticizes Laffey for allowing his city to accept Mexican identification cards. State Sen. Juan Pichardo says the ad, “unfairly portrays Hispanic immigrants as a threat to national security.” [MIKE… by the time this goes public, we will have a new immigration story on the site… should include a link to it from here]
Interestingly, equal percentages of voters say they have “very favorable” (20%) and “very unfavorable” (18%) opinions of both Chafee and Whitehouse. Even more interesting is the fact that Chafee gets better marks from Democrats than Republicans. Twenty-one percent (21%) of Democrats have a “very favorable” opinion of Chafee compared to only 14% of the GOP faithful.
Overall, the sitting senator is up with voters from both parties. Sixty-three percent (63%) of GOP voters and 28% of Democrats now say they support Chafee. Those numbers were 59% and 19%, respectively, in the last poll.
Most Rhode Island voters (54%) view Chafee as politically moderate. Twenty-nine percent (29%) see their Senator as liberal and 11% say he’s a conservative.
For Whitehouse, the numbers are 39% liberal, 34% moderate, and 8% conservative.
Both candidates are seen as far to the left of President Bush who is seen as politically conservative by 66% of Rhode Island voters. Distance from the President is a good thing in this left leaning state that doesn’t place much confidence in the performance of the President.
When asked who they trust more on matters relating to national security and the war in Iraq, 56% say the Democrats in Congress and 36% choose President Bush. The numbers diverge even further when it comes to managing the economy; 60% choose Congressional Democrats and slightly less than one-third (31%) choose the President.
Rhode Island is one of five states now listed in the Toss-Up Category for Election 2006. Three of the other four are also held by Republicans (Montana, Missouri, and Ohio). The only Toss-Up race for seat currently held by Democrats is in New Jersey.
Hold your nose, vote Chafee. Laffey's recent comments show little reason to back him, when combined with the likely loss of the seat.
I hate what the NRSC has done to Laffey, too. But it seems safe to say with less than two months remaining that Chafee is the only hope of holding the seat. Laffey ain't gonna bring out the hardcore grassroots like the Governor.
Sorry, in every other case, I would agree with you. Chafee refused to vote for GWB's reelection. He deserves no loyalty from any Rep. The Dems will win the seat, but that is better than supporting a candidate who disdains his own party.
No matter how you vote in RI, the result will always be a stinker.
One big reason it's not better is because the party with the majority gets to chair all the committees in the Senate and, therefore, gets to set the agenda.
Still, if the Republicans have to lose any seat, it ought to be Chafee's.
Pix of the most famous thing to ever come from rhode island.
I'm not a Rhode Islander, so I can't vote. But personally, I wouldn't vote for Chaffee if he were running against Lenin. The sooner he's out of there, the sooner Rhode Island Republicans can try to rebuild the party.
---"Are we better off as a minority party that works toward goals or a majority party that has no soul and is paralyzed by the likes of Chaffee."---
Not exactly the choice.
Do we deal with a buffoon from RI to prevent an outright EVIL party from running the Senate AND controlling judicial nominations?
Yes, we suck-it-up and deal with the buffoon.
Chafee's not evil, he's a buffoon. That beats the evil party any day, at least in my book.
Chafee IS a democrat, vote Laffey.
The GOP should be concentrating on ousting Landrei, Lincoln, Nelson, Graham (oh, he is a Republican?, I stand corrected I guess), and the few RATS left in the South.
Using your logic, we should vote for Osama if he runs as a "Republican" so "we won't lose a seat."
From Wikipedia.
Political positions and voting record
Chafee has been noted many times for voting against his fellow Republicans on many key issues.
Abortion
Chafee strongly supports legal abortion. In May 2005, Chafee's senatorial re-election bid was endorsed by the traditionally Democrat-supporting NARAL Pro-Choice America, due to Chafee's outspoken support for women's "Right to Choose". NARAL supports individual candidates based on their political records re "reproductive rights" and other related issues, and thus endorses Republicans on occasion, but based on the difference between the two major parties, the vast majority of endorsees are Democrats. He is a member of the Republican Majority For Choice and Republicans For Choice.
Gay Rights
Chafee is a strong supporter of gay rights. He is one of only a few Senators, and currently the only Republican Senator, to have expressed support for gay marriage.
Environment
Chafee favors strong environmental protection. He was one of the few Republicans to vote against allowing drilling in ANWR, and is a member of the Republicans For Environmental Protection.
Tax Policy
Chafee opposes eliminating the estate tax and voted against both the tax cut bills of 2001 and 2003. He is the only Republican to vote in favor of reinstating the top federal tax rate of 39.6% on upper-income payers.
Iraq
On June 22, 2006, Chafee was the only Republican to vote for the Levin amendment calling for a non-binding timetable for a withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. He voted against the Kerry amendment calling for a binding timetable.
Stem Cell Research
Senator Chafee is a member of The Republican Main Street Partnership and supports federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
Others
Chafee favors more federal funding for health coverage and supports an increase in the federal minimum wage. He supports affirmative action and gun control. Chafee was one of only two Republicans to vote against the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which banned lawsuits against gun manufacturers and distributors for the criminal acts of third parties. On June 27, 2006, Chafee was one of only three Republicans to vote against the proposed Flag Desecration Amendment. He is also a member of the Republican group It's My Party Too.
These positions make his voting record among the most liberal of the Republicans in the Senate (see[2]
I didn't see anything in the article that he said. Could you give us an idea what it was?
You provide the basis for a STRONG case of ousting this guy and letting the chips fall where they may.
totally off the subject:
So I take it you're with me as someone who won't vote Giuliani?
---"Using your logic, we should vote for Osama if he runs as a "Republican" so "we won't lose a seat."---
No, because Osama is evil.
Chafee is a buffoon who doesn't even entirely understand his positions when you talk to him about them.
Among other things, he recently was very adamant about saying that he's "not a Conservative." Then he called for the removal of Donald Rumsfeld and criticized the war.
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