I think the Senate will remain in GOP hands despite losing some seats (Montana, PA, RI). I don't see the Dems picking up Virginia (no matter how dumb Allen is...do we really think this guy is ready for prime time?), Tennessee and I think Missouri is starting to look better. On the other hand, there are few Republican pick up opportunities (New Jersey will start to look out of reach when they figure out it's the kid and not the old man) and ones they should have been able to be competitive for (WV,FL,NE) were bungled. So far Schumer has run a much better operation than Mrs. Dole. The House is more in play. But the real GOP losses will be in the statehouses.

If I voted in Rhode Island, that right there would be enough to make me vote Laffey in the primary. National party leadership telling me who to vote for? No thanks. What a slap in the face--to Laffey and the Repub primary voters.

I think the Republicans are pursuing the right strategy. Chafee stuck with the GOP when Jeffords defected. Chafee's lifetime ACU rating is low, but I believe it is higher than all but two of the Democrats (and Lieberman isn't one of them). Rhode Island may make the difference between controlling the Senate and being a minority party. The Republicans rather keep control of the Senate with a moderate like Chafee, even if Chafee votes against them a lot, than lose the Senate to the Democrats. The Republican leadership believes the choice is between Senator Chafee and Senate Majority Leader Reid. Given that, they are doing the right thing strategically.

I read the NY Times piece, and it confirmed just how much the NRC doesn't get it. Chafee is already effectively a Dem anyway! I proudly support the Club for Growth, and I know that if Laffey wins, McCain will beat the drums even louder to shut all 527's down - you read it here first.

Dan, I've got no problem with liberal states have liberal Republican representation. That's all fine and good. But for the NRC to say they will give up on Rhode Island if Chafee loses is ridiculous and not the comments of a serious party.

Funny thing is Karol, one of your mirror sites (ie dem leaning) rail against the defeatist attitude of their party....

We won't lose either House, but this Chafee crap is insane. $1.25mil? Activating the 72-hour program? For a guy who's to the left of most of the Democratic caucus?

Dole has been truly horrible for her entire tenure. Get her out of there, now.

Karol:

I think that the Republican leadership believes that this election will go very badly for them. They must think that Rhode Island is a lost cause without Chafee so why waste money there. They rather spend their money in states where they have a decent shot of winning. I think they are being realist, not defeatist.

Someone:

As I pointed out above, Chafee is to the right of all but two Democratic senators.

It's interesting that y'all are lambasting the prospective senators for their biases. The defeat isn't realized in accepting a liberal candidate, it's in losing control of the legislature, and all of the power that goes along with that. Establishing chairmanships, setting legislative agendas, etc.

Anyone who believes voters, not parties, should select candidates should be pissed off about this - not because you prefer Laffey or Chafee or whoever the Democratic candidate is, but because the NRSC is deliberately trying to bully Laffey's supporters out of voting for the candidate of their preference.

I have no doubt Chafee is more "electable" than Laffey, but to use the CT example, Lieberman was more electable than Lamont. CT Dems decided there was something more important than an easy general election win - having a Democratic nominee who reflected their views - and the Democrats accepted that and got behind the man who won their primary, even though his road to a Senate seat is still an uphill battle. (And Lieberman would have coasted.)

I wouldn't vote for Lamont at gunpoint, myself, especially if Lieberman were an alternative, but the Democratic party handled it correctly and is respecting their people's wishes by supporting Lamont. Apparently the GOP doesn't give a crap.