Democratic Senate candidate Sheldon Whitehouse is leading his opponent Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) 45% to 40% in a new American Research Group poll.

Political Wire analysis:

Key findings: Whitehouse gains a slight edge because 72% of Democrats say they would vote for Whitehouse. Although 69% of likely voters have a favorable opinion of Chafee, compared to 51% for Whitehouse, over 80% of those saying they have a favorable opinion of Whitehouse say they would vote for Whitehouse, compared to 56% for Chafee. Democrats who like both candidates say they would vote for Whitehouse.

Also, a Rasmussen Reports poll released on September 18, 2006 shows Whitehouse leading Chafee by 8%.

As the DoubleSpeak minivan barrels up the coast, you should expect to hear from Sheldon Whitehouse on our show soon!

An often overlooked race in the Democratic Party’s battle to win back control of Congress, the Rhode Island Senate race continues to get more interesting. Rhode Island Secretary of State Matt Brown (D) dropped out of the race this April, leaving former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse (D) as the presumptive nominee to battle Lincoln Chafee in the general election. While Chafee is considered a moderate in the GOP, Rhode Island is a decidedly blue state that seems poised to go bluer this cycle.

A new Brown University poll out today shows Whitehouse leading Chafee for the first time in the race. Via PW.

If the general election is held today, 38 percent say they will vote for Sheldon Whitehouse, 37 percent support Senator Chafee, and 25 percent are undecided (compared to Chafee’s lead of 40 to 34 percent in February).

If the Republican nominee is Mayor Laffey, Whitehouse is ahead by 55 to 25 percent (up from the 44 to 29 percent Whitehouse had in February).

This is an absolutely essential pickup for the Dems in ‘06 if we want to retake the Senate. You can help by volunteering or contributing.

This afternoon, Rhode Island Secretary of State Matt Brown (D) dropped his bid for the U.S. Senate, clearing the way for presumptive nominee, former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse (D).

Matt Brown is a very good candidate and a committed progressive, but intra-party struggles, coupled with a late primary were ultimately going to hurt the chances of a Democrat snatching that very vulnerable seat away from Republican Senator Lincoln Chaffee.

With Sheldon Whitehouse at the helm, I say, bring it on!

From the Associated Press:

Secretary of State Matt Brown, dogged by questions about his fundraising practices in the campaign for U.S. Senate, drops out of the race.

Brown says he did not have enough money to continue in the race.

He threw his support behind fellow Democrat and former Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse.

They were both vying for the seat held by Republican Senator Lincoln Chafee, who faces Cranston Mayor Stephen Laffey in the Republican primary.

Brown had a strong showing in an independent poll by Brown University early this year.

But in recent months, he has struggled with dwindling funds and persistent questions about a series of donations made to his campaign by Democratic parties in three other states.

We will be seeing more of Matt Brown in the future. DoubleSpeak wishes him well.