R.I. Senate Race: Pell Beats Chafee

PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Aware of ticket splitting is normally Democratic Rhode Island resulted last night in Democratic presidential candidate George McGovern's going down to defeat, while incumbent Democratic candidate Senator Claiborne Pell scored an upset victory over former Secretary of the Navy John Chaffer.

With 42% out of 47% election districts reporting. President Nixon led with 173,403 votes to McGovern's 159,179 while Pell had 184,937 to Chaffee's 150,137.

In the gubernatorial election the Democrats scored another upset with the victory of Democratic candidate Phillip Noel. Mayor of Warwick, over Herbert DeSimone, former Assistant Secretary of Transportation.

The split-ticket victory was largely due to support of the senatorial and gubernatorial candidates by labor and Providence's Democratic machine.