Rhode Island’s Sen. Lincoln Chafee says he may leave the Republican Party after losing in Tuesday’s election despite voting against the war in Iraq.

AP via SFgate:

Chafee said he has not decided what to do after leaving office, but he hoped to stay involved in public life. He said his loss may have helped the country by switching control of Congress.

“The people have spoken all across America. They want the Democrats and Republicans to work together,” he said. “I think the president now is going to have to talk to the Democrats. I think that’s going to be good for America.”

Chafee said he waged a lonely campaign to bring the party to the middle. He described attending weekly lunches with fellow GOP senators and standing up to argue his point of view, often alone.

“There were times walking into my caucus room where it wasn’t fun,” he said, adding that he stayed with the GOP largely because it helped him bring federal dollars home to Rhode Island.

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