Rhode Island: GOP Incumbents Struggle in Blue State

[skipos]

It looks like we want Laffey to get the nomination. I am not sure how realistic that is though.

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/April%202006/Rhode%20Island%20April.htm

Lincoln Chafee (R) 44%
Sheldon Whitehouse (D) 41%

Steve Laffey (R) 32%
Sheldon Whitehouse (D) 51%

"The gubernatorial incumbent is also struggling. Republican Governor Donald Carcieri is neck and neck with Lieutenant Governor Charles Fogarty, a Democrat. Carcieri attracts 41% of the vote to Fogarty's 42%"

[saltpoint]

1. Hi, skipos. When is the primary? Is Sheeler polling well against

Whitehouse?

[katinmn]

2. LOL. How would anyone know? Sheeler is not included in the polls.

[skipos]

3. When I google "Sheeler" and "poll" I only get a few polls

and he is very low. I like both Sheeler and Whitehouse from what I know about them.

I believe the primary is in Sept.

[katinmn]

4. Poll methodology explained here by ProJo editor

http://www.projo.com/opinion/editorials/content/projo_20060423_23sheel.2e06667.html

Nevertheless, most pollsters -- unfairly and undemocratically -- exclude Mr. Sheeler's name when asking Rhode Islanders which Democratic candidate they'd prefer for Senate. Democrats are instructed to choose between Messrs. Brown and Whitehouse. And apparently some local Democratic committees don't even return Mr. Sheeler's calls.

[skipos]

5. The bottom line is that RI can choose whoever they want in the primary

and there is not too much anyone can do it.

I'll give my support to whoever RI chooses in the primary. I'd like to see us take back the senate.

[MaineDem]

6. And Brown has dropped out of the race. n/t

[saltpoint]

8. Okey doke. Thanks for the update. Rhode Island is interesting this year.

[SteppingRazor]

7. Laffey's all but doomed in the primary...

he's running against Chafee for the same reason Lamont is running against Lieberman -- only from the opposite side of the political spectrum. In other words, he's running because Chafee isn't conservative enough. In Rhode Island, a state without a strong conservative base, that's a stupid move. Lamont I can understand, but Laffey's run would be like us trying to run a liberal against Conrad in the Dem. primary in North Dakota.

[TheDonkey]

10. But this will make Chafee a little more vunerable

Because he will be using campaign cash to fight off a primary opponent while also turning off some conservatives.

Looks like Chafee is still a vunerable incumbent against the Democratic challenger. We could use all the help we can get. Even though Chafee is by far the best Republican in the Senate (whatever that means ;))

[SteppingRazor]

11. Exactly. Being the "best Republican"...

is an almost meaningless phrase. Joe Lieberman's light years better than Chafee, just for his views on abortion and civil rights.

And you're right, this will make Chafee spend a few dollars, and may make some conservatives stay home. Whitehouse still has an uphill battle though. I think Whitehouse will win, but I think it will be very, very close.

[Hippo_Tron]

14. Chafee doesn't support the war like Lieberman does

And Chafee has decent records on civil rights and abortion, although his kissing up to Bush on judicial nominees kills a lot of that. It depends on what is important to you and frankly there are a lot of people who have become single issue voters because of the Iraq War.

[TheDonkey]

9. RI rocks (eom)

[AX10]

12. Good to see that Carcieri is weak.

A well run campaign will turn Rhode Island into a DARK BLUE state.

[Tiggeroshii]

13. When is the Repub primary?

What are the polls on that? Anybody know?