Whitehouse Topples Chafee in R.I.

Democratic Senatorial candidate Sheldon Whitehouse hugs a supporter outside a polling station, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006 in Providence, R.I.. Whitehouse is looking to unseat incumbent Sen. Lincoln Chafee, R-R.I.. (AP Photo/Stew Milne) (Stew Milne - AP)

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse rode a wave of voter dissatisfaction with President Bush and the war in Iraq to topple Lincoln Chafee, one of the most liberal Republicans in the U.S. Senate, whose family has held the seat for three decades.

Chafee, seeking his second full term, called his loss an inevitable outcome of a perfect storm: a well-funded opponent and a Republican president unpopular in this tiny state, with voters ready to send a big message.

Democrats saw the Whitehouse victory as key in their hopes of taking a Senate majority. During a victory speech, Whitehouse thanked jubilant supporters.

"You had the choice of a lot of things you could have believed in this campaign, and you believed in me," Whitehouse said. "I will work my heart out to honor that trust."

Whitehouse, 51, had tailored his message to focus largely on party, with TV ads linking Chafee to Bush.

Whitehouse also complained that Chafee often tried to play two sides: trying to please national Republicans by voting with them on procedural matters that would further their legislation, then voting no when the measure made it to the floor and his vote no longer mattered as much.

Chafee was appointed in 1999 to fill the vacancy created by the death of his father, Sen. John Chafee. He was elected in his own right in 2000.

Chafee, 53, said Tuesday that he regrets that he won't return to Washington to work with what he said was a shrinking group of moderates in the capital.

"Our political system today is more deeply divided than at any time in our history. I fear that after tonight it will only become more so," Chafee said.

He had attacked Whitehouse's record as a prosecutor, saying he didn't do enough to go after corruption, a perpetual sore spot in Rhode Island. Whitehouse was state attorney general from 1998-2002 and a U.S. attorney from 1994-98.

Chafee also struggled to regain his footing after the Sept. 12 primary, in which he faced an expensive race from Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey, a challenger more in line with Republicans nationally.

His resources sapped, Chafee was forced to lend his campaign more than $1 million out of his own pocket to stay competitive.