Chafee jumps in in late 2003!

[TommyC1776]

What if Lincoln Chafee challenge George W Bush for the Republican nomination in 2004?

I read that he was considering doing it too but decided not after they found Saddam Hussein.

Would Chafee have won any primaries?  Rhode Island?

[bhouston79]

You know with Rhode Island's close proximity to New Hampshire, and New Hampshire's general disdain for Bush's style of governing, Chafee may have made the NH primary interesting much like Pat Buchanan did in 1992.  Of course this time the incumbant would have been under attack from the left rather than from the right in his own party, which is really odd for a GOP primary.  Additionally, even if Chafee had have made a decent showing in NH, I seriously doubt that he would have seriously challenged Bush in the primary anywhere else except perhaps New England.

[Nothing Matters]

Chafee could stand up and win in New England, maybe and maybe New York or Pennsylvania and other parts but possibly only strong campaigning. Chafee could pick up liberal support in the major metropolitan areas but he plays out nearly like McCain did in 2000, only winning New England states and maybe several other states but that's it.

[Nothing Matters]

and how would this affect the fall campaign?

It could lead to maybe Chafee's supporters of liberal and some moderates in the mix could possibly go and support the Democrats candidate and might through the presidency to the Democrats in 04'.

[Stranger in a strange land]

and how would this affect the fall campaign?

It could lead to maybe Chafee's supporters of liberal and some moderates in the mix could possibly go and support the Democrats candidate and might through the presidency to the Democrats in 04'.

the way I see it, it would only have mattered if Chafee himself had endorsed Kerry, and even then it probably wouldn't have mattered enough to make a difference in any crucial states. Remember that Chafee himself wasn't especially popular with the Republican party, not even in Rhode Island.