No way MA is strong Republican. Especially considering that on election day 2012, the Senate control may be up in the air, and Mass. voters realize that their vote might determine who has control of the Senate in 2013.
That was true in Rhode Island 2000. Few people think that way, because for it to matter, you have to believe that Obama will lose.
1) Chafee's father served in the Senate almost four terms.
2) Brown may be moderate by national GOP standards, but he's still conservative compared to a New England Republican, esp. Chafee
3) RI-Dems nominated a somewhat conservative candidate; I think Chafee was to left of his opponent on some issues
