We have a statement by Rob Simmons and a statement from the spokesperson of Sam Caliguri that they are sticking to the Senate race courtesy of the Courant.
“There has been speculation that in the event of Gov. Rell’s retirement, I or other Republican U.S. Senate candidates may enter the race for governor,” former congressman Rob Simmons said in a statement. ”[M]y experience in national defense and foreign policy as a 37-year veteran of the U.S. Army and as an intelligence officer combined with my skills as a legislator are among the reasons I am best-suited to the U.S. Senate.
“Further, the Republican Party must nominate for the Senate someone who is tried and tested in difficult races, and as the only Republican with a record of defeating entrenched Democrat incumbents, and as the only Republican consistently leading Senator Dodd in the polls, I believe I am the best candidate to lead us to victory in this race. My plans remain unchanged.”
Sam Caligiuri’s spokeswoman said the state Senator from Waterbury is also planning to stay in the U.S. Senate race instead of switching gears and running for governor.
But RollCall is painting a different picture about the Senate race that Simmons and Caliguri might want to pay attention too. It’s all about money and delegates.
With about 1,600 GOP delegates poised to pick the party’s nominee at their annual convention in May, this could be one contest in which spending heavily on television ads has diminished returns.
Five Republicans have lined up to run for the chance to challenge Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), one of the most vulnerable Senators up in 2010. Former Rep. Rob Simmons was viewed as the early establishment frontrunner, but since then at least two of the candidates have demonstrated that they are willing to fund their own campaigns to varying degrees. That means it’s even more likely the Republican fight will be carried on to an Aug. 10 primary — three months after the party faithful select their desired nominee.
According to Republican state GOP Chairman Chris Healy, the task is for candidates to court and persuade as many of the 1,600 delegates from the 169 Republican town committees as possible until the May 21 convention.
“It is a challenge, but we’re a small enough state and these committees are small enough and they’re cohesive enough that they do it by meeting with town committees in their regular meetings,” Healy said.
According to RollCall, Linda McMahon has already put $3.5 million into her Senate campaign coffers. She’s been making the rounds of local party flunkies.
“Since I announced in mid-September, I’ve done over 100 events,” McMahon said. “I’m having individual meetings with [Republican town committee] chairmen and further meetings with the town committee.”
McMahon declined to say whether she would drop out of the contest if she did not win the Senate nomination at the convention or if she would continue to pursue a bid if she got enough support to get on the ballot without the nomination. Even if she didn’t have enough support at the convention, McMahon would have the funds to support a petition drive to get on the ballot.
The other deep pocketed candidate is Tom Foley, former ambassador to Ireland, who has put in $539k into his campaign coffers seeking the senate gig. Rounding out the Republican field is Peter Schiff who according to his web site out raised Chris Dodd’s $900k.
Meanwhile, the Connecticut GOP hasn’t picked yet the majority of its delegates since party rules call for the election of new party chairs in each RTC. Darien perhaps is the poster child of warring factions within its RTC locally, but the rise of teabaggers within the state doesn’t bode well for many RTCs.
source: RollCall, GOP Senate Hopefuls Court Audience of 1,600 in Connecticut, By Shira Toeplitz, Nov. 10, 2009,
