SENATE RACES
Laffey Makes If Official By Announcing Challenge To Chafee

     Emphasizing his blue-collar roots and record as mayor of Cranston, Republican Stephen Laffey announced Thursday he would challenge Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee for the GOP Senate nomination next year.

     "I'm running for the United States Senate because the smallest state in the union needs the strongest voice in the Senate," Laffey said.

     In his announcement, Laffey cited his rise from a humble Cranston upbringing to success as an investment banker. Laffey, elected mayor in 2002, took credit for improving Cranston's finances and bond rating.

     Laffey said as senator he would "fight" drug and oil companies for lower prices, close unfair loopholes in the federal tax system and promote fiscal discipline.

     His announcement ends months of speculation about his plans, which have worried national GOP leaders who are already preparing to defend Chafee against Democratic opposition in the 2006 general election.

     A Chafee spokesman responded to the Laffey announcement by claiming Chafee has "100 percent" support from Rhode Island Republicans, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and the White House.

     An NRSC spokesman vowed his party would work to re-elect Chafee, who will be seeking his second full term.

     "The best way to ensure that the state of Rhode Island doesn't get turned over to a liberal Democrat is to support Sen. Chafee," the NRSC spokesman said. "And that's what we're going to do."

     Rhode Island Democrats, bolstered by the party's advantage in the state, are eager to capture the seat, but they also have their own primary, which features former state Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse and state Secretary of State Matt Brown.

     While Chafee is already a target, Democrats maintain the seat would be easier to win with Laffey as the GOP nominee, especially if he can be tied to conservative Republicans.

     Democrats have tried to paint Chafee as too closely allied with President Bush and national GOP leaders, and are expected to watch closely Chafee's position on an upcoming Senate vote on a permanent repeal of the estate tax.

     Meanwhile, sources in both parties said Laffey's ideological positions are unclear. They note Laffey promotes himself as a populist, even though his potential candidacy has stirred particular interest among conservatives who are unhappy with Chafee's moderate voting record.

     "Nobody seems to know where he stands on some of these major federal issues," one state source said of Laffey.

     However, the Chafee-Laffey primary could set up another battle between the moderate Republican Main Street Partnership and the free-market Club for Growth.

     Main Street Executive Director Sarah Chamberlain said her group will defend Chafee's re-election in a primary if necessary. She said a conservative primary challenge, backed by the Club, would be needlessly expensive and counterproductive.

     Chamberlain challenged the Club not to back Laffey, citing a 12.8 percent supplemental property tax increase Laffey supported in 2003, just after becoming mayor.

     "One of the first things he did was slap a 13 percent supplemental tax" on Cranston, she said.

     Club for Growth President Patrick Toomey, who could not be reached for comment, has expressed interest in the race. The Club, which has made estate tax repeal a signature issue this year, already has run television ads in several states, including Rhode Island, on the topic.   
 

 By Mark Wegner