But for now, the campaign has managed to hold that coalition together and project the “Trust Chafee” message with minimal distractions.
The limits of that message may explain why Chafee hasn’t pulled away from his lesser-known rival in the polls. But the fact that he’s remained competitive — with a deeply un-popular tax hike at the center of his campaign — speaks to the power of the reputation his family has built.
Ultimately, voters may care more about candidates than their plans — even in trying times. And Lincoln Chafee’s campaign — the Man You Can Trust, Part II — provides the purest test of that principle since, well, 1968.
David Scharfenberg can be reached at dscharfenberg@phx.com.
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