Ok, it may not be next on the calendar, but the
Sept 12 GOP primary in Rhode Island will be fun to watch. Just like Joe Lieberman, Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) has a primary challenger who is bucking the national party to make a statement.
Freepers feel about Chafee the way folks here feel about about Lieberman except that they seem perfectly willing to sacrifice a Senate seat over it. The National Republican Party is supporting the incumbent and even attacking the challenger, as has been diaried nicely here by Pruitt. But the GOP has a much greater chance of losing a Senate seat over it.
This diary marks the end of speculation over Chafee filing as an Independent.
The Providence Journal has a story on Laffey's ground game. Sad.
Otherwise, this race has not received the attention it deserves. My guess is that a big Lamont win will create some momentum for Laffey (the anti-incumbent challenger narrative in the press) and maybe we'll get an early Christmas gift in the form of a right wing wacko in liberal Rhode Island as the only obstacle between Sheldon Whitehouse (D) and the United States Senate.
Can you imagine Senator Whitehouse joining Senators Tester, Lamont, Webb, McCaskill, Brown, Carter and Pederson in the 2007 freshman class?? (cue John Lennon soundtrack)