The Associated Press is reporting that Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R.-R.I.) is the culprit behind today's cancellation of UN Ambassador John Bolton's committee vote.

With Rhode Island's Republican primary just five days away, the timing of Chafee's demand to ask more questions of Bolton is awfully bizarre. Bolton is a favorite of Republicans, meaning Chafee must think his Election Day fate lies with independents, who are eligible to vote in the primary.

However, the RINO's move couldn't have come at a worse time for his biggest backer: the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Blocking a vote on the President's UN ambassador isn't exactly the smartest move to win over Republicans already angry at the NRSC for supporting a candidate whose years of liberal votes have hampered the GOP.

And today, of all days, the NRSC is blasting Republican Steve Laffey. As David Freddoso reported this afternoon, the NRSC is trumpeting a poll that shows Chafee beating Laffey on Tuesday.

I asked NRSC spokesman Dan Ronayne about Chafee's decision on Bolton -- and why the NRSC is spending upwards of $1 million to help him, according to the Associated Press.

"If Laffey does win this primary, we're minus one Republican in the Senate," Ronayne said. "If our general election nominee is Steve Laffey, we're certain to lose."

A note about Foreign Relations Chairman Richard Lugar: I had a suspicion this morning that he wasn't behind the Bolton maneuver. However, I still believe Lugar is at fault for not running a tighter ship. Chafee had the entire month of August to converse with Bolton. The fact that he's pulling these shenanigans now is just ridiculous. It emboldens Democrats.

UPDATE -- 3:35 p.m.: Steve Laffey is capitalizing on Lincoln Chafee's bizarre move to block John Bolton. Here's a press release just issued by his campaign:

Mayor Laffey Takes Chafee to Task for Vacillation on Bolton

According to the Associated Press today, Senator Chafee “pulled the plug” on John Bolton’s confirmation as UN ambassador, “saying he had more questions that needed to be answered.” Once again, Senator Chafee has demonstrated how indecisive he is on the critical issues. Whether it is his vote on Justice Alito, or his vote in the 2004 Presidential election, or his vote on Bolton, Senator Chafee clearly lacks the decision-making skills required of a US Senator.

Over the past year, John Bolton has demonstrated that he is a capable and effective representative of America’s interests in the United Nations. It is because of him that the U.S. has achieved unanimous Security Council resolutions condemning North Korea’s missile tests and ending the Israeli-Lebanese war, as well as a near-unanimous resolution setting a deadline for Iran to suspend its nuclear program. Even previous critics of Ambassador Bolton have admitted that the Ambassador has proven himself over the past year as an effective leader and defender of U.S. interests.

“All the other Senators have made up their minds on how to vote except Lincoln Chafee, who, like always, can’t figure out where he stands,” said U.S. Senate candidate and Mayor Steve Laffey. “It is outrageous that a vote had to be postponed because Senator Chafee can’t make up his mind. Rhode Island and America deserve better.”

UPDATE -- 5:42 p.m.: I have a copy of the letter Chafee sent to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today, which attempts to explain his rationale for holding up a vote on Bolton. After reading it, I'm now even more confused as to why the Bush Administration is supporting Chafee's re-election.