At this point folks, it's about getting the D's excited about Sheldon Whitehouse. We need to remind Democrats that while Chafee is very independent-minded, that he would give the Republicans committee control. In other words, if Chafee were re-elected he would, inadvertently or not, eliminate any chance of holding the most extremist, divisive, and dangerous Presidential Administration in history accountable for it's conduct and rhetoric.
Moreover, the Laffey Republicans knew all along that their candidate wouldn't win. The "Club for Growth" gang is so desperate to purge the Senate of moderate "RINOS" that they were willing to sacrifice a senate seat. Indeed, this was a vote to remove Lincoln Chafee, rather than elect Steve Laffey, from the United States Senate. Expect the vast majority of these individuals to either stay home, or continue the purge by voting Whitehouse.
Chafee will likely win the favor of independents, but allegations of nepotism (the seat has been in the family for 30 years) as well as a strong anti-incumbent sentiment could drive them towards Whitehouse.
If we can inspire the D's, and get within 5-6 points of Chafee on the I's, we'll win by a comfortable margin.
We should also try to focus on the growing "Connecticut for Lieberman" demographic. CFL is a "party of ONE" geared towards a group of people trying to express an agenda. In no way is it a pathetic attempt by an incumbent to hold onto his seat by playing the system and defying what our founding father's intended for our elections.