There is no reason to support a Democrat in all but name over a full blown Democrat. Chaffee is one of the few Republicans who deserves to be defeated, even in the general election, no matter where he is from.
Yes, actually there is... even if the guy only carries and R in name only (which I have issues when people throught hat label around, because it shows in general some ignorance, but that's another topic for another time) and that reason has to due with control.
An R who is a "RINO" as some so delightfully call it, is still an R.. and if your. 51st R is a Chaffee or a Helms doesn't matter in terms of whether or not you control the floor agenda and committees or not.
There are 2-3 liberal (and mostly activist) Supreme court judges that are only staying in their seats hoping they can outlive the Republican Legislature and Bush administrations.. Now, which party do you wish to have control of congress when they are up from replacement?
Stop advocating cutting off your nose to spite your face. If a stronger conservative can get elected in RI then by all means let him take out the sitting one in the next primary.. that's how its meant to be done.
Those that think, well this guy isn't conservative enough, or that guy isn't conservative enough (or on the left make the same but opposite claims (not liberal enough)) and say, bah! Let the other guy win, can't be any worse.. .are indeed dead wrong.
Chaffee has dug himself a hole in a lot of areas, which is evident by his polling numbers, but he is a senator from a very liberal state, to expect him to have ever acted as a Helms et al is a preposterous expectation. If the people of RI have decided they won't support an R no matter how leftist he may act, then so be it.. but you don't just make insane statements that an net R loss is somehow a good thing, even if you don't care much for the R that's losing. When you have a huge majority, sure you can think that way, but a few seats is not a majority where you can do that and expect to remain effective.