Tag: Rob Simmons

It’s on:

Former Republican Rep. Rob Simmons said Sunday that he plans to run against Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd.

Simmons said he made the decision to join the race after talking with relatives.

“The family had a long meeting today and was unanimous that I run,” he said in an e-mail message to The Associated Press. “So I am running.”

This is a pretty huge score for John Cornyn and the NRSC. While Simmons did get washed out (barely) in the 2006 Democratic landslide, he held onto a D+7.6 district for three terms after beating a complacent incumbent, Sam Gejdenson, in 2000. Simmons will bring some serious chops to the table in a state that hasn’t seen the GOP field a viable Senate candidate in, well, decades. A recent Q-poll even showed Simmons edging Dodd by a 43-42 margin.

While Dodd will still be considered the early favorite in this deep blue state, this is shaping up to be the most challenging campaign since he began his Senate career. How aggressively Dodd moves to rehabilitate his image and deflect Simmons’ scrappy attacks will be of particular interest in the coming weeks — and months.

(Hat-tip: trowaman)

This would be a pretty big coup for John Cornyn:

Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) is contemplating a challenge to Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) in 2010, as Republicans appear to be telegraphing that they plan to target the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs chairman for defeat.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) met with Simmons to discuss a potential bid a few weeks ago while the former Congressman was in town for the Republican National Committee winter meeting, according to a knowledgeable source. Simmons, however, has not yet made any commitments to the NRSC.

“Congressman Simmons would be a very strong candidate in this race, particularly when ethics and the economy will be two of the biggest issues in 2010,” NRSC spokesman Brian Walsh said. “That said, it’s our understanding that he’s still examining his options as are other potential candidates.”

Simmons, who was knocked off by Democrat Joe Courtney in an extremely close race in 2006, is already testing out some attacks against Dodd:

“I am currently looking around for opportunities to be of service,” Simmons said. “As you know, I’ve got a fairly substantial background in public service and I’m currently just looking around, if you will, exploring possibilities to see what looks good.”

Although Simmons was coy about 2010, he touted his service as an aide to former Sens. John Chafee (R-R.I.) and Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.) as proof of his ability to straddle the spectrum of the Republican Party. Simmons was also fast to criticize Dodd for not foreseeing the economic crisis as chairman of the Banking panel, as well as not disclosing the details of a well-publicized deal he got on a mortgage for his home.

“Sen. Dodd has disappointed a lot of his supporters up here in Connecticut with his activities over the last several years,” Simmons said. “He left the state, moved to Iowa, to pursue what turned out to be a frivolous attempt to run for president of the United States of America.”

If Simmons goes for it, this race could conceivably get pretty interesting. The latest polling (Quinnipiac, December 2008) hasn’t exactly been kind to Dodd the Bod — his approval rating is limping along at 47-41, and his re-elects are in even worse shape: only 44% say that they’ll vote to re-elect the incumbent in 2010, while 47% say that they’ll go with someone else.

There’s no question that Simmons would have to run one hell of a race in order to win in this bright blue state, but the path for him is available if he decides to take a crack against an incumbent who voters seem to be getting at least somewhat tired of.