Primarymania: Chafee vs. Laffey, Cardin vs. Mfume Update: Chafee wins
posted at 9:31 pm on September 12, 2006 by Allahpundit
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You can track the Maryland returns here and the Rhode Island returns here. Cardin’s expected to win pretty handily in MD; if he does, he’ll be the favorite against Michael Steele in the general election in November. As for RI, if Chafee wins, we get six more years of Chafee. If Laffey wins, he’s a heavy underdog against Democratic nominee Sheldon Whitehouse. The question might simply be this: do we want Whitehouse to be the one to torpedo John Bolton? Or will it go down easier if Chafee does it?
Actually, the question is do we want the GOP to retain control of the upper chamber or do we want Harry Reid’s next intimidating letter to ABC to bear the stamp of Senate majority leader? My heart says Laffey but my brain says RINO.
Stay tuned for updates.
Update (Ian): There was an issue with the delivery of electronic voting cards in Maryland this morning which left voters unable to vote. No doubt you will be hearing election truthers blame Karl Rove and Diebold.
The Chafee-Laffey race garnered record turnout in the Rhode Island primary.
Socialist Bernie Sanders easily won the Democratic nomination for retiring Senator Jim Jeffords’ seat.
Spitzer expected to easily defeat Suozzi in Democratic primary for Governor.
Update (Allah): Chafee leads 53-47 with 35% reporting.
Update (Ian): Speak of the devil, election truthers at Daily Kos are already playing the Diebold card.
Update (Allah): Still 53-47 with 66% in.
Update (Ian): Maryland: Cardin leads Mfume, 55-23 with 3% reporting.
Update (Ian): Close race between William Donald Schaefer and Janet Owens for Dem Comptroller candidate. Owens current leads 36 to 35.
Update (Allah): Hope’s a-fadin’ for rock-ribbed conservatives. Linc leads, 54-46, with 78% reporting.
Update (Allah): Carl Cameron tells Fox News that Laffey just called Chafee and conceded. Game over in RI. Probably for the best, but it’s bittersweet.
Update (Allah): More good news for the GOP: Ace says Santorum and DeWine are closing the gap in their respective Senate races. Each trails by only four points.
Update (Ian): With 26% of precincts reporting, Steele has been named the victor with 87% of the vote.
Update (Allah): Cardin leads Mfume 44-37 with 24% reporting. The other nineteen percent of voters are split among 16 candidates.
While we’re waiting for results, check out a few buzzworthy political ads. The one that’s getting the most attention is Progress for America’s. It’s on the cusp of parody, but entertaining nonetheless. Vets for Freedom has a nice clip of Connecticut veterans endorsing Joe Liebs. And Jim Webb’s decided to keep running this ad featuring the Gipper despite Nancy Reagan’s request that he pull it off the air. I think Webb’s in the right.
Mary K’s got another good one over at TownHall.
Update (Allah): 46-37 for Cardin with 48% reporting. Hard to believe Mfume can make up that difference.
Update (Allah): Pathetic:
In Rhode Island, the importance of holding onto a GOP Senate seat brought Laura Bush and the GOP establishment to campaign around Chafee – even though he was the only Republican to vote against the resolution to use force against Iraq and he opposed the president’s tax cuts. Chafee did not even vote for Bush in 2004 — instead writing in his father, George H.W. Bush.
Update (Allah): It’s 12:45 a.m. and with 64% reporting, Cardin now leads 47-37. I’m calling this one and going to bed. G’night.
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I can’t stand Chafee – he comes across so weasely and limpy…but I’m with you on the heart/brain conclusion.
Entelechy on September 12, 2006 at 10:01 PM
Noooooooo! Not Chafee! Anyone but him! Get the liberal-disguised RINO out!
Enoxo on September 12, 2006 at 10:11 PM
Maryland is a third-world country. I had to vote with a provisional ballot this morning.
Remember, when looking at Cardin-Mfume stats, that Baltimore votes come in late. Just ask “Governor” Ellen Sauerbrey.
Attila (Pillage Idiot) on September 12, 2006 at 10:30 PM
Ugh. Laffey just conceded to Chafee.
Enoxo on September 12, 2006 at 10:38 PM
Oh well….I guess the GOOD news is that Chafee can win. He is a Republican with a small “r”..his opponent was too “conservative” to win..so altho it is a loss because the seat remains RINO..at least it isnt a DINO :)
labwrs on September 12, 2006 at 10:50 PM
Pretty-cool third-world country, I say, to let an Attila vote–(wink)…As a Southern Marylander, I had better luck. I think there are a few more right-of-center folks down here–I’ve heard they tend to be a bit more efficient.
Melba Toast on September 12, 2006 at 10:51 PM
Screw that RINO POS Chafee…
Jaibones on September 12, 2006 at 10:52 PM
Oops, bold off?
Jaibones on September 12, 2006 at 10:53 PM
I hope bold is off. That gets irritating.
May the GOP grow stronger in November. Win more seats, become fiscally responsible, act like statesmen and not polititians.
Doug on September 13, 2006 at 1:39 AM
It isn’t surprising. Chaffee like Bush is a democrat in heart.
Who cares………..just a total joke, our incompetent political class, that is destroying America and the middle class.
LZVandy on September 13, 2006 at 6:32 AM
I love how the MSM is calling Chafee a “moderate Republican”. Face it, if the count in the Senate was close enough and the Democrats offered Chafee a leadership position, he’d “Jeffords” the Republicans in a heartbeat.
This is what MSM deems a “moderate” Republican:
2005 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 65 percent in 2005.
2004 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 100 percent in 2004.
2003-2004 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 9 percent in 2003-2004.
2003 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 90 percent in 2003.
2001-2002 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 0 percent in 2001-2002.
2001 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood 100 percent in 2001.
2001 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 0 percent in 2001.
2000 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the NARAL Pro-Choice America 90 percent in 2000.
1999-2000 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the National Right to Life Committee 16 percent in 1999-2000.
1996-2003 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the Planned Parenthood (Senate) 100 percent in 1996-2003.
2003-2004 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the American Civil Liberties Union 67 percent in 2003-2004.
2001-2002 On the votes that the American Civil Liberties Union considered to be the most important in 2001-2002 , Senator Chafee voted their preferred position 60 percent of the time.
2000 On the votes that the American Civil Liberties Union considered to be the most important in 2000 , Senator Chafee voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2005 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People 75 percent in 2005.
2001 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the League of United Latin American Citizens 55 percent in 2001.
2000 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the League of United Latin American Citizens 63 percent in 2000.
2005 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the Gun Owners of America 0 percent in 2005.
2003-2004 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the Gun Owners of America 0 percent in 2003-2004.
2003 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the Gun Owners of America 0 percent in 2003.
2001-2002 Based on the results of a questionnaire the Gun Owners of America assigned Senator Chafee a grade of F- (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F-).
1999-2000 Based on the results of a questionnaire the Gun Owners of America assigned Senator Chafee a grade of F- (with grades ranging from a high of A+ to a low of F-).
2005 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 57 percent in 2005.
2004 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the AFL-CIO 58 percent in 2004.
2004 On the votes that the Service Employees International Union considered to be the most important in 2004, Senator Chafee voted their preferred position 100 percent of the time.
2004 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the Communications Workers of America 67 percent in 2004.
2004 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Worker 67 percent in 2004.
2005 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 75 percent in 2005.
2003 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the Americans for Democratic Action 65 percent in 2003.
2005 According to the National Journal – Composite Liberal Score’s calculations, in 2005, Senator Chafee voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 59 percent of the Senators.
2005 According to the National Journal – Liberal on Social Policy’s calculations, in 2005, Senator Chafee voted more liberal on social policy issues than 60 percent of the Senators.
2005 According to the National Journal – Liberal on Foreign Policy’s calculations, in 2005, Senator Chafee voted more liberal on foreign policy issues than 58 percent of the Senators.
2005 According to the National Journal – Liberal on Economic Policy’s calculations, in 2005, Senator Chafee voted more liberal on economic policy issues than 57 percent of the Senators.
2004 According to the National Journal – Liberal on Social Policy’s calculations, in 2004, Senator Chafee voted more liberal on social policy issues than 60 percent of the Senators.
2001 According to the National Journal – Liberal on Economic Policy’s calculations, in 2001, Senator Chafee voted more liberal on economic policy issues than 53 percent of the Senators.
2001 According to the National Journal – Liberal on Social Policy’s calculations, in 2001, Senator Chafee voted more liberal on social policy issues than 55 percent of the Senators.
1999-2000 Senator Chafee supported the interests of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare 80 percent in 1999-2000.
TexasRainmaker on September 13, 2006 at 7:51 AM
What is his record on Illegal Infiltrators?
cwcsquared on September 13, 2006 at 8:46 AM
I’d rather see the Republican party purged of RHINOs so I have to hope for the Democrat in name to win. Even if the Republicans lose the House, it would be worth it if they can start to get back on track. As it is, we might as well have a Democratic majority IMO.
Benaiah on September 13, 2006 at 8:51 AM
I was at the Laffey reception last night. He’s a stand up guy, and I hope we’ll be seeing more of him.
The only consolation is that we’ve got a decent shot of not sending Senator Whitehouse to Washington. Which is good because, well, Whitehouse is Ned Lamont with all the money. So, there’s that.
Pablo on September 13, 2006 at 10:20 AM
Pablo, as usual, you summed it up good!
The NYT has some ’strange’ and realistic titles, lately “In Setback for Democrats, Incumbent Wins Republican Senate Primary”
Entelechy on September 13, 2006 at 11:53 AM
Of a bigger concern for me then RI having 2 Dems to choose from is the race in MN where Keith Ellison won. The Twin Cities needs to get ready for sharia law. Ellison is the CAIR candidate.
LakeRuins on September 13, 2006 at 12:13 PM
Laffey should run for the presidency. I just called and offered my support along with money. We don’t need this rotten political class anymore. The Bush/Clinton cabal. He would do great if he could just get some coins to work with.
LZVandy on September 13, 2006 at 2:46 PM
Some other races:
Florida Senate:
The GOP backed RINO state Senate leader Jim King against very conservative Randall Terry to a total of $1,000,000 GOP dollars to take out Terry, who lost. King is pro gay marriage and adoption, pro college tuition to illegals, partial birth abortion, amnesty, euthanesia (a main player in the Schiavo death) anti tort reform etc.
Arizona: the National Republican Congressional Committee backed Steve Huffman (pro amnesty, pro gay marriage, pro abortion) against Minuteman Randy Graf to the tune of $122,000. Graf won.
Delaware Senate primary the GOP backed RINO Ting against conservative O’Donnell. Ting is publically in favor of pulling the troops out of Iraq. He won by 300 votes.
I got that info from an email which also noted that in
Rhode Island the National Republican Senatorial Committee spent $1.2 million on ads attacking Laffey.
Previously the Bushies pulled out the stops to preserve the evil mummy Arlen Specter against a real conservative. IMHO Specter is there to block any real immigration reform.
There is a real battle going on to turn the GOP RINO, apparently to preserve the momentum to erase the border between the U.S. and Mexico. The GOP will spend more $$ to kill a Minuteman than a Democrat. Right now the Senate is RINO leveraged. How many Rinos can conservatives afford before they are disenfranchised by both parties?
Tip the House to RINO and amnesty becomes law, along with the end of borders. I will fight to the death to preserve my nation, but I will not fight to preserve the United States of Mexico.
entagor on September 13, 2006 at 7:31 PM
I guess we can still hope for the (real) Democrat to win in Rhode Island.
Wolfman on September 13, 2006 at 8:16 PM
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