Will Chafee run for re-election as a Democrat?

[flaminbats]

Shortly after US Senator Jim Jeffords of Vermont quit the GOP in 2001 and gave majority control of the Senate to the Democrats, Chafee was quoted in some stories saying he would consider switching parties if he ever thought it would "make a difference" on the issues he cares about. In a new sign that Chafee is making an extra effort to draw attention to his independent streak, he surprised a group of journalists Tuesday morning with his comments on the Presidential race. The Providence Journal reported that Chafee backed off his earlier comments about supporting Bush. Today, Chafee stunned listeners by saying that he plans to vote for a Republican for President in November ... but that it would probably not be Bush. When asked to clarify, Chafee said he would likely write-in a Republican but did not yet know who he planned to write-in. When asked if he would write-in for John McCain's name, Chafee said probably not. Chafee -- the only GOP Senator to vote against the President's 2002 Iraq war resolution -- explained: "I'm not sure I like his position on the war."

http://politics1.com/index.htm

I have had an extremely low opinion of party switchers since my own Congressman switched parties ten years ago. Now I'm hoping Chafee switches parties! One Republican Senator who will not vote for shrub, one Republican who has the courage to oppose the IWR, one of few Republicans who opposed Bush's tax-cuts both times, and a Republican who agrees with Kerry's healthcare plan. We need you Lincoln, and you can do more good for our nation by winning as a Democrat than getting defeated in the Republican primary in two years!

But if Chafee does switch, who shall be my favorite Republican? :yourock:

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. He's a very liberal Republican

I'm sure he's disturbed by his party's far right movement. I hope he changes parties, or at least does a Jim Jeffords!

[theshadow]

2. He's a member of Republican Main Street Partnership...

... a group defending "centrist" positions against the "strident" wing (i.e. the neo-cons). My hunch is he'll stay in the GOP to continue that, rather than switch.

But I'm in Wisconsin, so what do I know?

[flaminbats]

3. At least he's being honest that he might switch before the next election

My Congressman proclaimed he would never switch parties, because he considered that dishonest when running in 1994. The following April, after he had gotten my vote one last time, he switched and proudly joined Newt and the crowd..:grr:

It would be best to run for re-election as a Democrat..if he does plan to switch. This would give Rhode Island voters the final word over whether or not he did the honorable thing. :thumbsup:

[Proud liberal Kat]

4. I really don't think he will

and I hope that he won't in my own way, I want sane voices to stay in the Republican party and wrest it back from the Neo-Cons.
Kathy

[seraph]

5. No.

Don't expect him to switch parties.

And believe me, Linc is a huge thorn in the side of the very few idiot republicans in Rhode Island, and in bushco's side.