Providence

In Rhode Island right now with producer Richard Coolidge; we’re working on a spot about the tough primary (and possibly general election) to be faced by Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I.

Chafee is swimming against a tide of anti-incumbency (GOP challenger Stephen Laffey, the scrappy mayor of Cranston, constantly mentions how both Chafee and Democratic nominee Sheldon Whitehouse are members of the state’s five founding families — a patriarchal dis). And Chafee, as a liberal New England Republican, is something of an endangered species, as were conservative Southern Democrats in the 1990s. And perhaps Joe Lieberman falls into that category as well. … Without question, there are fewer moderates in both parties in D.C. these days. …

The first televised debate was last night. The attacks are coming fast and furious. The national GOP, convinced that only Chafee can hold on to the seat in this largely Democratic state, is trying to defeat Laffey and has launched a nasty attack ad against him. A Laffey win is entirely possible. …

We interviewed Laffey this morning at a Cranston coffee shop, and are now sitting at a Cumberland shopping mall waiting for Sen. Chafee. …

I always forget how working-class Irish and Italian this state is. How much more Laffey it is, if you will, than Chafee. Demographic-wise, not politically.

More later –

Jake