Our friends at Free Republic and on the Sean Hannity radio show are broadcasting their attack plan:
In Rhode Island, Cranton mayor Steve Laffey (R) is very likely to challenge Chafee in the primary. In Ohio, former GOP congressman and Fox News anchor John Kasich is considering a bid against Dewine.
I am growing increasingly optimistic about the Senate seats in Rhode Island and Ohio, but we need good candidates to meet the challenge.
Rhode Island
From National Review online:
"As Chafee looks forward to his November 2006 reelection campaign, Rhode Island Republicans are baffled by the sloppiness of his political operation -- a fact that the fundraising numbers bear out entirely. Chafee's first-quarter figures were an absolute embarrassment for a sitting senator, even though they cover a time period when he expected the extremely popular Democrat Rep. James Langevin to challenge him. Chafee netted a pitiful $139,000, whereas both of his potential Democratic opponents raised more than twice as much by the end of March and are rapidly closing in on his $750,000 war chest. A February 18 fundraiser for Chafee by Senate Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) was disappointing in its sparse turnout, according to attendees. But even worse than the turnout was the campaign pitch his supporters were making at the event -- the strained argument that Rhode Island cannot afford to send a congressional delegation composed entirely of Democrats to Washington. (Note to Chafee: It's worked pretty well for North Dakota.)
If he chooses to run (and our sources say he will), moderate Cranston mayor Stephen Laffey (R) will be an easy choice for conservatives over Chafee in next year's September primary. The popular two-term mayor of a thoroughly Democratic town, Laffey remains cagey about his intentions for next year. But his ambition is legendary to those who know him (smaller only than his ego) and he has to date resisted pleas from the White House, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman to swear off the race. In some ways the conservative label does not fit Laffey well. Although he says he is pro-life, he recently described Sen. Hillary Clinton's attempt to position herself on the middle ground on abortion as "reasonable." But even in this, Laffey is substantially more conservative than Chafee, and he may actually have a better chance in the general election to keep the seat in GOP hands."
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/carney_freddoso200505270802.asp
It seems to me that Laffey could easily win a GOP primary. We need to be fielding a top-tier candidate in Rhode Island. No more of this "we can live with Chafee.. he's not so bad" nonsense. He may not even be on the ticket in November 2008.
Ohio
In Ohio, Hannity is reporting that former Congressman John Kasich may challenge Dewine in the GOP primary. Kasich served 18 years in Congress. He currently works as an investment banker at Lehman Brothers (read: self-financed primary bid) and moonlights as a Fox News anchor ("Heartland with John Kasich.)
This is another strong challenger with a great network and name recognition.