Sen. Lincoln Chafee yesterday was still so full of nervous energy from his Republican primary triumph over Cranston Mayor Steve Laffey that he could barely bring himself to eat when he stopped for lunch in Angelo's on Federal Hill.

I joined him for a moment. It was about 1 p.m. He ordered a ginger ale, soup and broccoli, and I told him I'd run into his mother, Virginia, at Tuesday night's Biltmore Hotel celebration. I never saw her more excited. He said, "I had my doubts on this one, I really did, and I think she sensed that."

I'd seen Chafee struggle through some tough moments early Tuesday morning when turnout at Warwick's Potowomut School, his old stomping grounds, was light and a man chewed him out for running such a negative campaign. But now the senator told me that things got worse later: Another man came by and recalled promising that if Chafee voted against Samuel Alito for the Supreme Court, he'd vote against Chafee. "Now I'm keeping my promise," the man said.

Chafee yesterday had a right to savor his victory. "It's a huge win," he exulted. But he got only 54 percent of the vote of a small electorate. Indeed, many independents who backed him Tuesday will turn in November to Democrat Sheldon Whitehouse. So this won't be easy.

Talking with reporters yesterday, former Attorney General Whitehouse stepped up his attack on President Bush and renewed his call for electing a Democratic Senate:

"This is a matter of: Are you comfortable with your public schools, as they've been left unfunded by the Bush administration? . . . Are you comfortable with a health care system that leaves 46 million people uninsured and is unbelievably inefficient? Do you think we should have a plan for getting our troops home from Iraq? How long are we going to stay with an energy policy that is beholden to oil and gas interests?"

Chafee told reporters that Whitehouse's line about Republicans in Washington reminded him of singer Peggy Lee: "Is that all there is? He doesn't have anything else to offer." He said control of the presidency and the Congress shifts, and it's to Rhode Islanders' advantage to have a bipartisan delegation.

Bush press secretary Tony Snow yesterday hailed Chafee as "a loyal Republican" and said, "We're glad to have him aboard." I expect Whitehouse will rush those words into an ad. But Chafee, who prides himself on voting his conscience, said it won't work. "Rhode Islanders are going to know I'm independent." He said voters look for character. "Guts. Courage. Honesty. Ability to work with everybody. . . . I've proven I can do it."

In a conference call, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, termed Chafee a "perfect fit" for Rhode Island. I asked what attack themes the NRSC, which pounded Laffey in primary ads, might use against Whitehouse, but she didn't respond.

The Senate race picks up steam with tonight's AFL-CIO state convention. Delegates almost always back Democrats; it's a big thing if a Republican can keep a Democrat from getting the two-thirds vote needed for an endorsement. AFL-CIO President Frank Montanaro is Democratic national committeeman but he has spoken highly of Chafee in the past. "I still do," he said yesterday.

Chafee touts his labor record as Warwick mayor and as a senator and said he has a real shot of blunting Whitehouse's momentum tonight.

Whitehouse said he is hoping and working for the endorsement. Won't he look weak if he doesn't get it? He says, "Why don't we wait and see?"

M. Charles Bakst is The Journal's political columnist.

mbakst@projo.com / (401) 277-7638