Rasmussen: RI Sen. Chafee (R) 44%, Whitehouse (D) 41%

[Adlai Stevenson]

 May 4, 2006--Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee (R) continues to have a very tough row to hoe in his reelection battle, and fails to reach 50% support against his likely Democratic opponent. He also faces a stiff challenge for the Republican nomination from Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey.

When voters are asked about prospective match-ups, Chafee narrowly leads the likely Democratic candidate, former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse, by 44% to 41%, a tossup (see crosstabs). Another Democrat, Secretary of State Matt Brown, dropped out of the race in late April.

Rhode Island is one of the more critical states in the electoral competition for control of the United States Senate. If this very Blue State retains its Republican Senator, prospects for a Democratic takeover of the Senate are greatly diminished.

Chafee's Primary Election challenger, Mayor Laffey,  trails Whitehouse by 19 percentage points, 51% to 32%. If Laffey wins the Republican Primary, this Senate seat is very likely to shift from the GOP to the Democrat's column.

One more troubling sign for Senator Chafee is that Laffey does better among Republicans in the General Election match-ups against Whitehouse. Laffey earns 70% of the GOP vote while Chafee gets just 60%. However, in Rhode Island, unaffiliated voters can participate in the primary and Chafee does better than Whitehouse among such voters.

[© Tweed the Younger]

Still no numbers on the Republican primary?  That's no fun.

Chafee will obviously win if he gets past Laffey, although Whitehouse has a chance to make it close.  Laffey would get trounced.

[Wiz from Wis in Mass]

New Poll: Rhode Island Senator by Rasmussen on 2006-04-26

Summary: D: 41%, R: 44%, U: 15%

Poll Source URL: Full Poll Details

[Gabu]

Those numbers sound much more like it, compared to that last poll with Chafee +19.

[Democratic Hawk]

Chafee might be a liberal Republican but he's a Republican. Good chance of a Democratic pick-up

Dave

[© Tweed the Younger]

Chafee might be a liberal Republican but he's a Republican. Good chance of a Democratic pick-up

Dave

We should pressure Chafee to switch sides.

[WalterMitty]

Chafee might be a liberal Republican but he's a Republican. Good chance of a Democratic pick-up

Dave

We should pressure Chafee to switch sides.

not going to happen.

just like nelson from nebraska isnt going to switch  sides.

[Q]

We should pressure Chafee to switch sides.

not going to happen.

just like nelson from nebraska isnt going to switch  sides.

But Nelson is safe, even as a D.  The same can't be said for Chafee if he remains an R.

[sethm0]

 I don't think that Chaffe will go Dem because he does not like the Democrats in Rhode Island and feels like he owes the state Republicans. It's all local.

 Pulling a Jeffords and becoming an independent voting in the Democratic caucus is a more likely scenario - and would ensure Chafee this seat for life. The main factor preventing him from doing this is the Republicans in Washington - as long as they are in power if he switches parties they will find ways to punish him. As long as he stays put he will get the committee assignments he wants. Basically, as long as Republicans are in control it will be difficult for him to switch.

 He's also relying on the NRSC and other national GOP donors to fund his campaign.

 Chafee's a pretty enigmatic guy. He makes people scratch their heads a whole lot. Most people seem to think he's staying put though. At least for the forseeable future.

[MSUfan]

Stop doing that! I almost had a heart attack looking at this.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Stop doing that! I almost had a heart attack looking at this.

Here, have a FauxNews graphic. The Republican is up 50-39.

[poughies]

AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA FOX!

Mark Foley (D)!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!

[MarkWarner08]

Do I have to bump the poll showing Dukakis up 16%?