Close call because Chafee is the kind of Republican they like in Rhode Island. Still, I think the Democrats will finally take this one in what is essentially the most Democratic state in New England.. and possibly the whole country.

Not much to watch here, which liberal will represent Rhode Island. Democrats have worked hard to throw out Chaffee, who really is one of their own.

Here's another interesting campaign. In Rhode Island, we have Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse going against Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee. Essentially these are the two big names in Rhode Island politics going at each other.

Given that Rhode Island votes overwhelmingly Democratic, you would expect that this race should be a cakewalk for Whitehouse, but Chafee is keeping right up. One of his strongest arguments for his re-election is that a Republican voice for Rhode Island would help give them extra federal dollars and projects, given that Chafee has good relations with the majority leadership in the Senate, something that a freshman Democrat wouldn't. It also helps that he's one of the most liberal voices in the US Senate, voting against Iraq War and many of Bush's initiatives. This has helped him plenty with state voters, but this year, the tide might be too strong to preserve Chafee. Polls indicate that Whitehouse is ahead by about 6-8 points, primarily because people in Rhode Island are reacting strongly against the Republican Congress itself. Chafee is personally popular, but hes taking the heat for being on the wrong team at this time. It's a common problem for liberal and moderate Republicans in the Northeast, people like Chafee in Rhode Island and Rob Simmons and Chris Shays in Connecticut: while these representatives have been effective for their people back home, national concerns are ranking higher. The idea is that by casting a vote against Chafee, they're casting a vote against Bush, who ironically enough Chafee didn't vote for in 2004! Whether some of these liberal Republicans manage to hold on depends how much they can convince voters that they're an independent voice for their states and districts.

Chafee himself is strong enough to potentially beat back a strong challenger in Whitehouse, but right now, it looks like he might become another victim of the anti-GOP wave sweeping the country. But it'll be a close one. The Democrats really need this pick up in order to win back control of the Senate.