Rhode Island Republican Primary May Imperil the Chafee Dynasty
Sept. 22 (Bloomberg) -- Rhode Island is one of the most reliable Democratic-voting states in the country. For most of the past four decades, though, residents have made an exception for candidates named Chafee.
That practice may be threatened next year in the case of Senator Lincoln Chafee, 52, the son of former Governor and U.S. Senator John Chafee. After opposing President George W. Bush on tax cuts, energy legislation, the war in Iraq and other policies, the younger Chafee is facing a challenger in the 2006 Republican primary. Even if he survives, an expensive and hard-fought primary campaign may make him more vulnerable in the general election.
``This is starting much earlier than normal,'' said Scott Avedisian, the Republican mayor of Warwick, the Ocean State's second-largest city. ``It's going to give an awful lot of time for anger and for issues to be thrown around that can be harmful to both candidates.''
Chafee is one of a handful of Senate Republicans who won in 2000 by trying to appeal to Democrats and independents. He even said he didn't vote for Bush, instead writing in Bush's father's name, former President George H.W. Bush.
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