WP: Rhode Island: National GOP Helps Secure Chafee Win [View All]

[DeepModem Mom]

Rhode Island: National GOP Helps Secure Chafee Win
By Chris Cillizza


Sen. Chafee addresses supporters at his election night rally in Providence. Chafee defeated challenger Stephen Laffey in a close GOP primary race. (AP Photo)

Rhode Island Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R) beat back a strong primary challenge from Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey (R) tonight, a victory for which national Republicans deserve considerable credit.

The Republican National Committee, White House and National Republican Senatorial Committee coordinated on a vast voter identification effort on Chafee's behalf that, combined with sophisticated microtargeting and a big get-out-the-vote operation, won the day for the senator.

Top party operatives used the Chafee primary as a dry-run for the fall -- bringing in activists from across the country to get hands-on experience. And, unlike the base turnout operation during the 2004 presidential campaign, this one was much more focused on driving independents leaning toward Chafee to the polls -- a necessity given the suspicion with which the incumbent was viewed by conservative Republicans.

It worked. With nearly all of the precincts in the state reporting, more votes have been cast in the Chafee-Laffey race than in any other statewide Republican primary in the state's history. The ability of national Republicans to identify and turn out like-minded voters should give those predicting a massive Democratic wave this fall at least some pause. Midterm elections are typically low turnout affairs, and the party best able to motivate its base voters usually wins....

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Chafee's win improves -- but by no means assures -- Republicans' chances of hold this seat in the fall. Former state Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse (D) is well-financed and well-known to Rhode Island voters. As of press time, he has also received more votes than Chafee and Laffey combined despite having a non-competitive primary race....

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/