OK, my line of reasoning is a bit circuitous, but
Groo does what Groo does best.
Think about Dobson and the rest of his Talibaptist Christofascist minions.
In the ordinary scheme of things, they might have let Chaffee run unopposed in the primary.
It's New England, and he IS a Republican, after all.
I don't think that they can do this now that NARL has endorsed him.
It's one thing to let a moderate Republican win, but with a NARL endorsement, they must be feeling like Chaffee has the endorsement of the Devil himself.
Much like they ran the 'winger against Spector, I think that they are not forced to run a winger against Chaffee, if just to put him in his place.
Their own hubris, and the pressure from their grass roots will demand it.
So, id NARL just want to show their "nonpartisan" bone fides, or were they sticking the knife in?