Republicans eat their own in R.I. ! [View All]

By M.L. JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer 11 minutes ago

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - Republican Senate candidate Stephen Laffey once told a newspaper columnist that God wanted him to run for mayor of Cranston.

He spent $2,000 to soundproof his mayoral office because of fears people were eavesdropping.

And when journalists noticed he had digitally erased a former friend from photographs on his campaign Web site, he suggested aliens were to blame.

Jokes and funny stories about Laffey abound among Rhode Island's political insiders. But now he is mounting what could be a serious primary challenge to Republican Sen. Lincoln Chafee (news, bio, voting record).

Many Republican leaders, trying to protect their five-seat majority in the Senate, are supporting the politically moderate Chafee. They worry that the more conservative Laffey could win the primary, only to lose the general election in this heavily Democratic state.

But other Republicans are angry with Chafee for refusing to back President Bush on the war in Iraq, tax cuts and the nomination of Samuel Alito to the Supreme Court. And they have begun lining up behind Laffey.

more ... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060323/ap_on_el_se/rhode_island_senate