Republican Laffey enters Senate race against Chafee

[Judi Lynn]

Republican Laffey enters Senate race against Chafee
September 8, 2005

CRANSTON, R.I. --Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey on Thursday said he would run against fellow Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee in the 2006 race for Senate, expected to be the most expensive in state history.

Laffey becomes the only other member of Chafee's party to enter the race. Two Democrats, Secretary of State Matt Brown and former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, are also running.

Laffey, the outspoken mayor of Rhode Island's second-largest city, said Thursday that he wanted to give the smallest state in the union "the strongest voice in Washington." He said he would fight big drug companies, big oil companies and special interests, and work for a fairer tax code.

Chafee, a moderate who represents a heavily Democratic state, is often out of step with fellow Republicans on issues such as abortion and the environment. He was appointed to the seat in 1999 when his father, Sen. John Chafee, died, and re-elected in 2000.
(snip/...)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2005/09/08/republican_laffey_enters_senate_race_against_chafee/

[Prodemsouth]

1. Bottom line question to Mr. Laffey:

Who will you vote for Senate leader? if answer is Frist, you are useless go away. A non answer will not do either. Keep that in mind before any of you get excited about a Republican talking about fairer tax codes and fighting Drug Companies, and big oil. Ask yourself will they put a bushbot in control of the Senate. My guess he is liberal on the economics and conservative on social issues. Maybe he is anti-abortion, or against gay marriage. Social issues is were he will try to get the conservative vote in the primary. Then try to sell himself to economic liberals, working class voters with his anti corporate stands. A reverse version of Chafee, but still a Repug. Don't fall for his rhetoric.

[artfan]

3. He has tried to make economics his 'issue' locally

he does a radio show and I am convinced he will be much worse than any other choice.

[artfan]

2. This could be a problem

Laffey is a grandstanding idiot he is to the right of Chaffee and I am sure the R's would prefer him. I live in RI and would be happy is Laffey moved elsewhere.

[m_welby]

4. "laff at me" will certainly be a loud voice in washington

he's a self promoting ultra right repub. Apparently he's done well for his city (not that hard considereing the relentless corruption in cranston), but as a senator he'd be a disaster. he has typical republican values (that means none) and has a snowballs chance of getting elected to the senate in RI. Of course I fully expect the neocons will fully fund his ass because they hate chafee. I personally plan to vote in the republican primary just to help knock laffee out.

I have issues with chaffee sometomes, but at least he really has values that he stands by no matter the rhetoric. Hey, any republican who voted against IWR at least deserves my respect. Although come november I will probably vote Dem in hopes of sending a message, not for anything chafee has done, but just because of EVERYTHING bush has done.

[Prodemsouth]

6. I would suggest you vote for Laffee instead if he is that

conservative. If what you suggest is the case, he will make a better general election candidate for the Dem to run against. Genuine moderate Republicans could finally get pissed and vote for the Dem. I cannot stress this enough: A Chaffee win is a Bush win. Hagel from Nebraska is more of a threat to Bush's agenda than Chaffee. Bush/Rove understand politics enough to know Chaffee has to buck him every know and then. But Chaffee could get away with much more if he wanted to. The White House will stay out of this race or go through back door channels to make sure Chaffee wins the primary. They may even come out for Laffee so people will think they are voting against Bush if they vote for Chaffee. You are not dealing with a novice when your dealing with Rove. Chaffee needs to go!! We need that seat in RI. You are not going get those Senate seats in Bush Country. This is a good shot because RI is the state were Bush is the least popular among the 50.

[m_welby]

8. i don't see it that way, laffee is running for the middle

like a kid after the ice cream truck. He'll try to play to the moderate republicans for the primary and then the moderate voters of RI (and then turn into a freakin' bushbot). I can not risk having chaffee lose the primary and have us stuck with a loon in the senate. Personally any and all of these guys need to be stopped as soon as they raise their heads.

I like chaffee as a senator, I don't always agree with him but he does his best to represent his constituents rather than toe the bush line.

Do I want the seat to go demaocratic? absolutely, we need every seat we can get, but my beliefs will not allow me to give someone like laffee even the slightest opportunity. all it would take is some good politicing to get him elected (as proven with president cuckoo bananas), and then we'd be screwed. No, I will not give a right wing nutbag the chance.

They must be stopped before they can get started.

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. This is what Chaffee's loyalty has bought him

He should caucus with the Democrats starting tomorrow.

[Prodemsouth]

7. See my post above - this could all be part of a White House

strategy to help Chaffee keep his seat.