Chafee at the bit

Republicans are afraid for Lincoln Chafee:

The Republican Party's Washington and Rhode Island leadership turned out in force last night to raise campaign money for and pay homage to Sen. Lincoln Chafee, the maverick U.S. senator whom public opinion surveys show may face a tough 2006 reelection campaign.

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the number two in the leadership of the majority Republicans, told a crowd of more than 125 at the Hotel Providence that Chafee's reelection is crucial to keeping Republicans in power in Washington, and in giving Rhode Island some clout in a GOP-controlled capital.

Of course, were Democrats to pick up six seats the capital would no longer be GOP controlled, and Chafee is a good place to start. James Langevin, a Democrat who has yet to announce his candidacy, will hold a fundraiser on the 28th. He polled ahaed of Chafee recentlyy a 41-27 margin.