Linc Chafee about to lose his "Moementum" today...

[kentuck]

Senator Chafee is in the race of his life in the Republican primary in RI. Many think he may have the Joe Lieberman virus. Just as the Democrats voted against Lieberman in Connecticut because he was too close to President Bush, Chafee may lose for the exact opposite reason. The Repubican activists that vote in the primary may send Chafee home as the loser after the votes are counted tonight?

[skipos]

1. Real progressives should hope Laffey wins the Repub primary

as Whitehouse (D) would easily win the general election against him.

[OregonDem]

7. Whitehouse might win anyways but with a Laffey win in the primary

it means that less money can be spent on Whitehouse's campaign and used to help Democrats in closer elections.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

18. Paul Waldman's theory...

from "Being Right Isn't Enough"

He says that Democrats should work hardest to defeat the Lincoln Chafee's and Olympia Snowe's in the Republican Party. It's easy to pick off a Rick Santorum, but that leaves the Republicans with moderates in their midst, and so they can still claim to be a "big tent" party. Take away their moderates, and the become the party of fanatics.

That's why (putting on my flame-proof undies here) I was somewhat ambivalent about Joe Lieberman's losing the primary. I wish Ned Lamont well and all that (I live in Wisconsin, so I won't be voting for him), but Lieberman losing is the Republican flip-side of Waldman's theory. Chase the DINO's out of the party, and we become a smaller tent -- and subject to the same criticism that only fanatics join the Democratic Party.

Flame away...

[MaineDem]

2. Why can't we do the same to Snowe here in Maine?

Jean Hay Bright can't get any support from the money people. The DSCC won't support her. Emily's List won't support her.

She's a Progressive, anti-war, pro-choice candidate without much support.

[stellanoir]

3. Well I'm a Rhode Islander and I heard on the local

radio station this morning that droves of Dems had disaffiliated for the primary, presumably to vote for Laffey in order to presumably insure a Whitehouse victory. That is somewhat bothersome to me as it is disingenuous and Laffey is far to the right of the mostly eccentric Chaffee but I understand why folks would resort to this sort of maneuvering at this juncture.

Still with the hackable optical scanners tabulators firmly in place and a Secretary of State who channels Eddie Haskell regarding this woesome issue, these maneuverings could backfire totally and we could end up with yet another corrupt RW nut in the Senate.

[kentuck]

4. I don't agree with that strategy...

many never change back.

[karynnj]

6. I agree with you - I hate it because it is unethical

I would NOT want the Republicans to enter a Democratic primary to vote for a candidate who they actually would hate to eliminate a more viable better candidate.

I know that Laffey would be easier to beat, but it's just wrong. Also, wouldn't Democrats have crossed to vote for the undistinquished Governor of Texas, who had a history of failed management of companies and alchol and drug abuse possibly into his 40s over a multi-term Senator and war hero? We can get the bad alternative.

[m_welby]

11. It is unethical, if a liberal democrat can't win a fair fight

in the bluest state in the union then he doesn't deserve to win (and neither do we).

No matter who wins the republican primary today, this race is whitehouse's to lose.

[Bake]

12. Do you honestly think they DON'T do that already?

Admittedly, I have no evidence of it, but since it's a "dirty trick" I feel fairly confident in assuming they've been doing it for years.

Bake

[karynnj]

15. There have been times where it was said they did it

but it's hard to know if it is true. Even then there are people closer to the center who may like people in both parties.

[MaineDem]

8. There's a state rep in NH who did that

He was a republican but changed to D to vote in the '04 Dem primary. Never changed back and now has been disqualified from running for his own seat as a Republican. Records still show him a D. Duhhh.

(I still don't know how he served a whole term in the wrong party.)

[OregonDem]

5. Will he pull a Lieberman?

Has he said anything about running as a Indie in the general if he lost the primary? Does anyone know if Rhode Island laws prevent this?

[m_welby]

10. He has said he will not,

but i'm unsure if he could do so legally anyway. unless I'm mistaken, he can't get himself on the ballot for november at this point.

It is very unlikely, if he didn't jump the republican party by now he isn't going to.

[AX10]

13. I agree. He taking one of our seats. He needs to be defeated.

[eccles12]

9. He should have switched to Dem a long time ago. nt

[LostInAnomie]

14. If Laffey wins the GOP said they will pull all funding and let him sink.

So it might actually be better for us nationally for Chafee to win so it will force the repukes to spend money there instead of other races.

[Bake]

16. Money is not an issue for the Pukes

A few million here, a few million there ... they've got plenty to go around and if they need more they'll just go to the Scaifes et al. I think it's much more important for us to take that seat. I suppose we'll know soon enough.

Bake

[npincus]

17. what have the polls said? Who's been leading?