John Fund on the Laffey-Chafee Debate
From John Fund in today's WSJ Political Diary ($):
Chafee Misses a Chance to Play His Ace
It was a classic contest between a scrappy conservative populist and a patrician moderate. But in last night's GOP primary debate, Rhode Island Senator Lincoln Chafee didn't really hold up his end of the argument. The senator at times looked befuddled, fell back on stock recitations of projects he had brought home to Rhode Island and seemed generally outmatched by Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey.
Senator Chafee did make some news when he said that he supported bringing in Iraq's six neighbors -- including Syria and Iran -- for negotiations to solve the growing conflict there. "If we don't do that, if we can't work with those six countries I just mentioned, I would support a timetable" for withdrawal of U.S. troops, he said. Mr. Laffey countered by saying he supported the war but called for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Mr. Laffey reminded voters that he "grew up the hard way" before making his fortune in investment banking and returning to his native Cranston to become mayor in the midst of a fiscal crisis. He cited the city's turnaround as proof that special interests can be confronted and overcome.
Senator Chafee touted his ability to work with the Bush administration while also opposing it on key issues. He accused Mr. Laffey of accepting the support of the anti-tax Club for Growth, which he labeled "one of the most nefarious and most infamous of all special interests." Mr. Laffey responded that the Club supported lower taxes, an end to wasteful spending and school choice and that he was for all of those things. He accused Senator Chafee of having a "static view" of the economy and opposing pro-growth tax cuts. Mr. Laffey touted his own "dynamic view" of the economy that emphasizes stimulating entrepreneurial activity.
Surprisingly, Mr. Chafee didn't mention the one reason that many Republicans are backing him -- that polls show he has a better chance than Mr. Laffey of holding the seat for the Republicans in heavily Democratic Rhode Island. But his performance last night will lead many to question if Mr. Chafee can possibly hold his own in debates with Sheldon Whitehouse, the former attorney general who is sure to be the Democratic nominee. Win or lose in next month's primary, it looks as if Rhode Island has a scrappy new political star in Stephen Laffey.
