Political Fervor

I don’t know whether it is the new job working for Big Brother, living in D.C., or the general excitement about the chance the Democrats might actually take charge of some portion of the government and create at least the semblence of checks and balances in the government, but I’m pretty pumped about the upcoming elections.

A key senate primary race I’ve been following was held yesterday. In a 54% to 45% win, Senator Lincoln Chafee (R - RI) has survived long enough to see if he can hold onto his seat this November in Rhode Island. Chafee is well-known as being the closest thing to a moderate Republican senator currently serving. He voted against the Iraq War, is against Bush’s tax cuts, and generally a thorn in the White House’s side (at least occasionally.) Chafee even refused to vote for Bush 43 in the last election and instead wrote in Bush 41.

So why exactly did the Republican establishment fight so hard for Chafee in the primary when his opponent, Stephen Laffey, is probably more likely to tow the party line? Rhode Island is the bluest of blue states and while Chafee as a moderate, veteran Republican senator may have a chance in the general election against Democratic opponent Sheldon Whitehouse, Laffey wouldn’t have stood a chance and his primary win would have assured the Republicans the loss of the seat. Still, as much as the Bush administration may want to throw Chafee’s victory out as a win, I think it spells doom for the administration in November.

It seems to me that the Republican and Independent voters of Rhode Island had a clear choice between a moderate, anti-Iraq War Republican or a die-hard supporter of the President’s policies. They chose to support the candidate who does not support the Iraq War. This was a Republican primary we’re talking about. How will this play in the general election across the country? I don’t think it looks good for all the President’s men.

Update: I just noticed that my favorite political blog also has a story on the Chafee win. You can read it here.