The NRSC
Republican Steve Laffey is challenging incumbent Senator Lincoln Chafee in the GOP primary in Rhode Island. With almost 10 months to go before the primary, the National Republican Senatorial Committee is running attack ads against Laffey. From Roll Call Magazine ($): bq. Former Rep. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), who heads the Club for Growth, said he is surprised that the NRSC is hammering Laffey so vigorously. bq. I find it amazing that the NRSC, lagging well behind its Democratic counterpart in fundraising...nonetheless is spending its precious little money attacking a Republican who believes in the Ronald Reagan vision of government," Toomey said. bq. Toomey said that the NRSC is attacking someone who supports the party's ideals far better than Chafee does, which could hurt the committee's stand with "rank-and-file" Republicans. bq. This is a very good way to totally deflate and demoralize the base of the party," Toomey said. bq. Toomey's group, often criticized for its tactics, which include challenging incumbent Republicans it does not consider conservative enough, is considering backing Laffey, though Toomey stressed a decision has not yet been made.
