R.I. Senate: Does Chafee's Future Hinge on Alito Vote?

[kpete]

washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog
R.I. Senate: Does Chafee's Future Hinge on Alito Vote?
With the confirmation vote on Samuel A. Alito Jr. nearing, Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R) faces a Hobson's choice that could dramatically affect his reelection campaign this November.

Chafee remains the most high-profile undecided senator on Alito, and regardless of which side he eventually chooses, he can expect to be bashed for it.

Chafee faces a primary challenge from Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey (R). Should he get through that race, he will face off against either former state Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse (D) or Secretary of State Matt Brown (D) in a state that went for the Democratic presidential candidate by 20 points in 2004.

A Chafee vote for Alito will make for considerable fodder for either Brown or Whitehouse. But a vote against Alito could give Laffey the GOP nomination.

Asked about the seeming conundrum, Chafee campaign manager Ian Lang said that "from a purely political standpoint this is a lose-lose situation." Lang said Chafee will put aside political interests, however, and make a decision that is in the "best interests of the country and the best interests of Rhode Island."

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2006/01/chafees_tough_c.html

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. What do you think he'll do?

Anyone more familiar with Lincoln Chafee want to hazard a guess as to what his vote will be? Is the RI GOP in favor of a unitary Presidency or are they more traditional conservatives?

[sasha031]

3. I think he is afraid of the repukes

he use to be a decent moderate, before the 2004 election he had a opinion piece in the NYT of why he wasn't voting for Bush. I think he was threatened after that by Cheney, he has been caving ever sense.

[sasha031]

2. personally I don't see any competition on the GOP for Chaffee

RI does not belong to the GOP, if anything a vote for Alito will be his demise..

[calico1]

4. His chances of reelection will be

hurt if he votes to confirm because RI is so blue. It would be suicide for him to vote for Alito. The GOP challenger he can get by. But he will piss off a lot of Rhode Islanders if he voted for Alito. His best chance for reelection is to vote against him. I hope he realizes that.


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