Rumsfeld In Play In Rhode Island

ABC News’ Daniel Steinberger and David Chalian report: Rhode Island is home to one of the mostly hotly contested races in this upcoming election.  Vulnerable incumbent Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) is attempting to beat back a challenge from Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse.  Sen. Chafee who defied the president and all of his Republican Senate colleagues in 2002 by voting “no” on the war in Iraq can’t seem to get out from the shadow of news on the unpopular war and President Bush’s commitment to keeping Secretary Rumsfeld at the helm of the Defense Department.

The Military Times Media Group which publishes the Army Times announced it will be calling for President Bush to fire Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld in Monday’s edition of the newspaper.  The editorial states that “Rumsfeld has lost credibility with the uniformed leadership, with the troops, with Congress and with the public at large.” 

Quickly jumping on the editorial, candidate Sheldon Whitehouse used the opportunity to continue hammering Sen. Chafee about his stance on deferring to Bush on calling for the resignation of Secretary Rumsfeld.

Many Democratic candidates around the country are expected to work the Army Times editorial into their talking points.  Rhode Island is one of the nine most competitive Senate races in the country and represents one of the Republican seats both parties believe may flip to Democratic hands.