Chafee woes

Speculation abounds that Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey will take on incumbent Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee in Rhode Island's upcoming primary. That speculation could cost Chafee up to a half million dollars from the RNC:

Robert Manning, the party's national committeeman in Rhode Island, has refused to allow the contribution. He says no national GOP money should be spent to help candidates until after party members have decided who they'll be.

The dispute comes as speculation builds whether Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey will challenge incumbent Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee in a primary.

While Chafee currently outpolls both his Democratic opponents, he has done much to upset Republicans in his state.

Laffey, who still has yet to declare his intentions, actually would lose to either Democrat Whitehouse or current Rhode Island Secretary of State Matt Brown, which means that Republican zeal could actually cost them a Senate seat.

Democrats can find Whitehouse's campaign site here and Matt Brown's here.