Primary Targets

Dusting off complaints from the Main Street Partnership that their group only promotes party infighting, Pat Toomey’s Club for Growth is looking for candidates to oust incumbent Main Street Republicans. High on Toomey’s list of RHINO’s to purge from leadership are Lincoln Chaffee (R.I.) and Olympia Snowe (Maine). A Club official, who requested anonymity from Congressional Weekly, said the group is searching for “any credible opponent” to run against Snowe and is considering Stephan Laffey for Chafee’s seat. Also on Club’s radar is former Rep. Bob McEwen, who may make a primary run against Mike DeWine (Ohio). Dewine lost Club backing for voting against the budget reconciliation bill, as did Snowe for imposing limits on the GOP tax plan.