Sounds like Robbie Simmons is full of piss and vinegar:
“My consideration of running against Sen. Dodd is not poll-driven,” said Simmons, who criticized Dodd for losing touch with his constituents. “When I first ran for Congress in 1999, the Republican brand was way down in the toilet, and people said I was crazy to run when the GOP was out of favor – and I was able to beat a 20-year incumbent.”
Simmons said that, if he runs, he would face a significant fundraising disadvantage against Dodd. Still, he believes he would be financially competitive enough to run a formidable statewide campaign.
“He’ll go to his pals in the banking industry and get lots of money – and I won’t have that opportunity. But I don’t believe that Senate offices are meant to be bought and sold,” Simmons said.
Even more spunk:
“I’m definitely interested,” Simmons told Capitol Watch. “I’m angry about what’s going on in Washington, D.C. … I’ve worked all my life, and I’ve watched my IRA go down 50 percent, and I’m luckier than most.”
If I were to guess, I’d say that Simmons will go for it. And why not? He certainly has nothing to lose, and a scrappy campaign against a stodgy, troubled incumbent could be pretty fun.
(H/T: Genghis Conn)
PS: In case you’re wondering, yes, Simmons is still an asshole:
“Good for him to stand up for his beliefs,” Simmons said of Gregg. “It’s ironic that the Democratic choices don’t get approved because they don’t pay their taxes, and the Republicans don’t get approved because they won’t sell out their principles.”
But I think having a popular President helps with incumbent protection.
I don’t see Simmons beating Chris. As someone who worked on Dodd’s campaign here in Iowa I can verify that he mentioned his home state all the time. Chris is a good man and all the allegations being lobbied against him right now are completely without merit. For one thing Simmons is too conservative as well. If it were Chris Shays I would be a little concerned, but to be perfectly honest that’s only because I respect Chris Shays as well.
Chris saw his father tormented by the way his political career ended and he’s not going to go out like that. I dare the NRSC to put money into this race. That sort of foolish spending will only help us get another Senator Carnahan in Missouri.
So his IRA went down. It was almost entirely under Bush’s watch.
Go for it Robbie. Dodd will kick your butt. I’d put the over/under at Dodd 58% Simmons 42%.
It took Mike Gravel nearly 3 decades out of power to become this unhinged. When should we expect a Presidential run by Simmons?
Last time I checked, that was actually true. Well, maybe not, because Gregg apparently turned down Commerce because he lost control of the 2010 Census.
I would say that’s not being sneaky and political, just stupid. I mean, what kind of idiot (Judd Gregg) turns down a chance to work for the President of the United States because he won’t get to count how many black or Hispanic people live in, say, Idaho for example?
He wont even come close in a deep blue state like Connecticut. You dont win by running on Republican “principles” in states like Connecticut. If he ran as a non-ideological, Lincoln Chaffee style Republican, he would have a chance, but now I am not worried.