Strategy to BEAT Chaffee...ROVE STYLE!!!

[jackbourassa]

Since Matt Brown is out of the race and Whitehorse is the nominee. Why don't all Democrats in Rhode Island vote for Steve Laffey against Lincoln Chaffe? I understand that Rhode Island has an open primary system. Which means that Democrats or Republicans can vote for either side. So I suggest some primary trickery (a la Karl Rove). Why don't we start a campaign to vote for Laffey, and allow him to defeat Chaffee - and then vote for Whitehorse in the general. Laffey will be much easier to defeat than Chaffee, and we will neutralize the support Chaffee has gotten from groups like NARAL and the Sierra Club.

[Chemical Bill]

1. http://www.carlsheeler.com n/t

[bdamomma]

2. what's going on with Carl???

how is his campaign going???

[Chemical Bill]

3. Carl doesn't seem to be around here much lately.

He was on the front page of the projo the other day, I posted in the editorial/media section. His two billboards are an inspiration to me every time I pass them. You could check out his website. If you find out where he's been let me know.

Bill

[m_welby]

4. people like chafee around here

it will be difficult to get independant minded rhode Islanders to cross over into the republican primary and vote against him.


I'd have a tough time doing it myself. Parties aside, I'd prefer chafee over whitewash anyday. But...I'd rather have a DEM majority so i'll hold my nose in november and vote whitewash.

we'll see though. It is very possible that if independants don't cross over and vote in the republican primary FOR chafee, he'll lose the primary.

[Chemical Bill]

5. It is true, what you say.

>Parties aside, I'd prefer chafee over whitewash anyday. But...I'd rather have a DEM majority so i'll hold my nose in november and vote whitewash.

[anchor of hope]

6. Third Party Candidacy?

Has anyone thought about what might happen if Laffey defeats Chafee in the Sept. primary, and Chafee decides to run in the general election as an independent? If this scenario transpires, could we have a repeat of the 1980 NY Senate race, where incumbent Senator Jacob Javits lost the GOP primary to Alfonse D'Amato and subsequently reentered the race as the Liberal candidate, and losing to D'Amato in the general election? Although RI does not have a Liberal party, an independent Chafee bid in November, 2006 would split the progressive, Democratic-leaning vote, possibly resulting in a Laffey victory with 37% of the vote.

[woldnewton]

8. Or how about...

it will split the Republican vote instead? You do realize that Rhode Island gave John Kerry the widest margin of victory of all 50 states, coming in second only to Washington DC (where Dems got 90% of the vote), right?

In the scenario you describe, the overwhelming majority of Democrats will actually vote for a Democrat over Chafee, especially when, by losing his label as a Republican he loses the influence he's had for so long, and it's very unlikely Republicans would take him back after he switched to an Indy, even if it was Laffey that forced him to do it.

I'm not nearly as worried about your scenario as I am the situation in neighboring Connecticut, where there's even less chance of a Republican winning if the same kind of scenario plays out should Lamont win the Dem primary this Tuesday, but I am worried that Lieberman just might win as an Independent, especially if the idiot Greens don't withdraw their candidate and proceed spoil the race even futher...

read the tea leaves. Otherwise, just keep watching, and you'll see that all my predictions and concerns are on the mark.

[CHestonsucks]

7. We may like Chaffee

because he's representative of our past moderate Republicans but we like a Democratic Senate more!

[grizmaster]

10. Chafee lost me with his support of Bolton

Crazy Von Mustache would have been stopped at the committee level if not for Chafee's key vote. And originally he had said he was going to vote against him in committee, then buckled under to pressure from the Whitehouse.

As to those knocking Whitehouse, he's not the ideal man that's for sure. But Sheeler will get trounced by Chafee, and Whitehouse will most certainly beat Chafee. Winning the Senate seat for dems is far too important chance putting Sheeler against Chafee.


However, no matter how the primary turns out I'm going to work actively with the dem Senate candidate.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

16. For all the knocking of Whitehouse......

He's made it clear what he thinks of the administration. He's not playing the middle, that's for sure. Maybe he hasn't gone so far as to call for impeachment, but he's being the "safe" Dem.

[woldnewton]

9. BTW...

it's Chafee, not 'Chaffee'. I may want him defeated even more than you do (Trust me, if you only knew the lengths I've gone to get him defeated in the primary -- if I'm still around in November, I'll share what I've done for the cause with you), but it subtracts from our credibilty when we can't spell the neocon-enabling 'moderate' 's name right...

[usregimechange]

11. That is the plan.

[woldnewton]

12. New poll: Laffey 51, Chafee 34

So says a new Rhode Island College poll (likely Republican primary voters; earlier numbers from June in parentheses):

<...>

As you may know, Swing State is collectively rooting for Club For Growth's Steve Laffey to crush Chafee in the primary. If you still don't know why, just refer back to these poll numbers to give yourself a better idea as to why a Laffey candidacy will be a windfall for Democratic nominee Sheldon Whitehouse (as well as the DSCC, who can afford to channel money elsewhere should Laffey win).

[jackbourassa]

13. Exactly!!!

This is why ALL Democrats MUST VOTE FOR LAFFEY in the Republican Primary!

[splat]

14. Rovian indeed: Rove gets Dems to vote for wingnut Laffey

Rove must be laughing at how easy it's been to get the Dems to vote for his guy. This is too clever by half.

[woldnewton]

17. Um...

splat, are you a Republican operative? You do realize that if enough people vote for Laffey to defeat Chafee in the primary, then the Dems will pick up this seat, right?

It maybe a 'Rovian' thing to do, but believe me... Rove himself will not be happy if Steven Laffey wins today's primary.

[Chico Man]

15. I voted for Sheeler on the Dem ballot..

I got the dem ballot.. you mean I could have asked for the repub ballot?