Kennedy, Chafee Could Face Off in R.I.

[Judi Lynn]

Kennedy, Chafee Could Face Off in R.I.
By LOLITA C. BALDOR, Associated Press Writer

Friday, March 25, 2005
(03-25) 23:06 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

It would be the battle of the dynasties: Kennedy versus Chafee. The son of a Democratic icon against the son of a revered Republican senator and governor in the nation's smallest state.

Rep. Patrick Kennedy is considering a run against Sen. Lincoln Chafee for the only congressional seat held by a Republican in heavily Democratic Rhode Island. The mere prospect of such a matchup next year has set tongues in motion.

"It would be a great race. The two are very evenly matched," said Brown University professor Darrell West, who has written a biography of Kennedy, 37. "Chafee is a sitting senator and people like him, but he has an 'R' next to his name in a 'D' state."

Kennedy, a six-term Democrat, initially ruled out running against Chafee, leaving the door open for his House colleague, Rep. James Langevin. But Langevin opted out earlier this week, and now Kennedy is taking a second look.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/03/25/politics/p230632S41.DTL

[fujiyama]

1. Looks good

As long as Chafee remains a puke he's an enabler of the Bush agenda. I wish he would switch but if he doesn't, I hope he goes down.

[bluestateguy]

2. I really don't like Kennedy

he always struck me as kind of immature and a bit of a blowhard. I'm a Democrat and I will support the nominee of my party, but I prefer someone else.

[patricia92243]

3. I don't know which Kennedy he is. The one on AAR's "Ring of Fire"

is very good, but I think that may Robert Junior.

[BlueManDude]

4. Kennedy's a lightweight - I'd rate Chafee the favorite.

[Rowdyboy]

5. Chafee is the ultimate light weight

His entire reputation is that of a flake-loveable, but a flake. IMHO, I'd have to give at least a slight edge to Patrick Kennedy.

[NNN0LHI]

6. Due to recent developments (Republican overreaching) all Rethugs...

...will be considered underdogs next year. They screwed up. Haven't you seen the fear on their faces lately?

Don

[hedda_foil]

7. So Chafee is planning to leave the Senate to run for House?

That's got to be a first... particularly because it was his father's Senate seat. I wonder what the Repubs have on him (besides the fact that he doesn't like *) to force him off the Senate ticket.

[Blue_Tires]

8. he is a staunch environmentalist

in fact, he's greener than most dems...and Chafee has stopped up more than a few of bushco's bills in the Senate Environmental Works Cmte, so many in his own party are out to get him as well

[MalachiConstant]

9. yeah, i agree

chafee's actually not such a bad guy. he's a fairly liberal republican, it's too bad he didn't end up switching parties. i think the dem party should have other priorities (santorum, delay, frist, etc.,).