Rob Simmons Meets The Press
Photo by Steve Kotchko
Posted 3/23/09
As Connecticut’s veteran Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd found himself in yet another fine kettle of fish, tied to his potential role in allowing AIG execs to collect bonuses even though their failed firm is in federal bailout mode, a former Republican congressman, Rob Simmons of Stonington, surfaced to say he’s ready to run for Dodd’s senate seat.
After a family meeting on Feb. 15, Simmons sent an e-mail to the Associated Press wire service to announce the folks he loves are fine with him jumping back into politics. Simmons lost his Eastern Connecticut congressional seat in a Democratic tidal wave back in 2006. After that, Republican Gov. Jodi Rell gave him employment as the “state business advocate”, but the job was phased out due to budget deficit problems.
Simmons expects to file formal papers for a Senate campaign this week, and hopes to officially launch his effort in April. There are other Republicans interested in Dodd’s seat, including State Sen. Sam Caligiuri (R-Waterbury), and CNBC cable TV host Larry Kudlow. However, Simmons has one early accomplishment to crow about.
A recent Quinnipiac University poll did a hypothetical matchup between Dodd and Simmons, and Simmons won 43% to 42%. Dodd handily beat Kudlow and Caligiuri in similar matchups.
Simmons believes Dodd is losing his luster because he is out of touch with Connecticut voters. He said Dodd’s decision to move his family to Iowa while running for president in the last election cycle illustrates the Senator’s hubris. “The idea that Sen. Dodd has been out of town and become part of the Washington establishment, that he’s been there too long—these are things I hear from Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated voters,” said Simmons.
While Dodd maintains his innocence on charges that he received a “sweetheart” mortgage deal from Countrywide, a firm implicated in the subprime mortgage scandal, and defends his dealings in the complicated purchase of a home in Ireland, Simmons thinks voters aren’t buying the stories. “Flip flop, flip flop,” said Simmons. “As you get into the story, it becomes a little bit different, and I think that’s a problem for (Dodd).”
While Simmons seems to be in a good place right now in his bid to unseat Dodd, he knows it will not be easy. For one thing, Simmons couldn’t hold onto his own 2nd District Congressional seat in 2006. So, can he really mount a winning statewide campaign against the well-known Dodd?
Moreover, Democrats surely will try to tie Simmons to ex-president George Bush, not a very popular figure in Connecticut. Simmons replies by saying Bush did little to help him keep his seat. He noted that the Bush Administration Pentagon pushed to close the Groton Submarine Base, a major facility and economic engine in the 2nd District. “That’s not exactly what I would call a friendly act,” said Simmons. “We fought the Administration and Pentagon on that and we won.”
Dodd always has been a well-funded candidate for reelection even when his Republican challengers were lightweights with little chance of success. Surely, the Senator’s campaign will be aggressive in raising money for what could turn into a “make or break” struggle for reelection in 2010.
Simmons has traveled to Washington to talk with officials at the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “They have made no specific proposal to me with regard to funding, other than to facilitate my campaign,” said Simmons. Indeed, some Republican Senate candidates in past battles against Dodd were promised big bucks by the GOP in Washington, only to be left high and dry when their campaign poll numbers didn’t measure up.
It could cost more than $5 million to run a credible campaign against Dodd, according to Simmons. When he first announced his bid, Simmons joked with reporters that, at that point, his campaign consisted of his cell phone. Asked last week if he’d expanded his campaign, Simmons quipped: “I’ve got a blue suit, how about that? How do I look?”