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Politics : The Supreme Court, All Right or All Wrong? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: sandintoes who wrote (1376)	1/31/2006 11:01:13 PM
From: Glenn Petersen	Respond to of 3029

Chafee, of course. Chafee Takes GOP Maverick Role, Again By ANDREW MIGA , 01.31.2006, 04:34 PM Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee, the lone Republican to vote against Samuel Alito's Supreme Court confirmation, has a history of bucking his party on major issues including Iraq, abortion rights and taxes. Chafee's independence is a matter of political survival in a Democratic-leaning state that tends to favor moderate Republicans. "Just being independent and honest and willing to show some guts is what they like about me," Chafee said in a telephone interview Tuesday after his Alito vote. Chafee's tough re-election fight is already one of the nation's marquee 2006 Senate races. "Everybody's targeting Rhode Island and Chafee is a Republican in a Democratic state," said Brown University political science professor Darrell West. "The Rhode Island Senate race will be about the most competitive race in the country." A self-described "pro-choice, pro-environment, pro-Bill of Rights Republican," Chafee faces a primary challenge from Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey. Two major Democrats are also seeking Chafee's seat in a state John Kerry won by 20 points in the 2004 presidential contest. Chafee said Republicans, including National Republican Senatorial Committee head Sen. Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, pressed him to support Alito instead of alienating core Republican primary voters. A vote for Alito would have given Democrats eager for his seat fodder in the general election, Chafee said, while a vote against Alito guaranteed the wrath of his GOP primary base. "Politically, it's a lose-lose," he said. While Chafee's vote may cost him with mainline Republicans, analysts said it could help him win support in September's open primary from independents, who can vote in either party contest. Chafee was appointed to his Senate seat after his father Sen. John Chafee died in 1999. He has opposed party-backed legislation including President Bush's tax cuts, and he was the only Republican senator to vote against the Iraq war resolution. But GOP leaders, eager to maintain their Senate majority, still back Chafee. Copyright 2005 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed forbes.com