Posted on 08/11/2006 9:40:56 AM PDT by BlackRazor
A Republican Headache for Lieberman?
No one is happier about Alan Schlesinger, the hapless Republican candidate in the three-way race for Joe Lieberman's seat in Connecticut, than Joe Lieberman.
The incumbent senator, after all, is counting on the support of Republicans as well as independents and moderate Democrats to beat Ned Lamont in the general election. And having credible Republican in the race -- which Schlesinger, forgive us for saying, is not -- could siphon a serious number of votes from Lieberman's "independent Democrat" candidacy.
So... remember Jack Orchulli?
He's the well-connected multi-millionaire and former partner of the fashion designer Michael Kors who ran and lost against Chris Dodd in the 2004 Senate race. Orchulli did manage to draw a third of the vote in that Senate campaign two years ago -- a handy number to keep in mind in a three-way race-- and has the ability to raise a lot of money very quickly.
Orchulli told us late yesterday that he's already been approached by state Republicans about replacing the hapless Alan Schlesinger as the G.O.P. nominee in the Connecticut Senate Race -- and that he'd "make himself available" to do it.
"Should the party decide that they want me, and should Mr. Schlesinger decide that he wants to step aside, I would make myself available to them," said Mr.Orchulli. "If I was in it, it would undercut the perception that Mr. Lieberman has the Republicans, and it would change the dynamic of this whole race."
And though the Times wrote after the election that Republicans hadn't much idea about a credible alternative candidate, Orchulli, at least, sees it differently.
"The funds would be there," he said. "There is personal money, and people have expressed interest in raising money."
So can Orchulli possible be the guy? Or does all the praise of Lieberman by the Republican leadership, including Karl Rove, suggest that they have something else in mind?
the left is insane.
I think the Republicans will do well in the fall, nationally. Connecticut, of course, is one of those states where Republicans never have a chance. But if the scenario discussed in this article were to play out, and if CT were to elect a Republican senator, on top of doing well nationally -- boy that would be hard for the media to spin as a rejection ofPresident Bush (but they'd try shamelessly).
No, actually, I don't - and I believe that I must have voted for him at the time. He must not have run a very memorable race, and merely benefitted from the "anybody but Dodd" vote...
Glad to see the Republicans will find a credible opponent for Liberal Joe.
PING!
Does PARTNER, in this instance, mean bidness partner? If not, then how conservative is this guy, really? Lieberman may still be the best, issue for issue.
I road to the polls with my Democrat friend up here in CT. As I waited outside, a Lamont supporter was pushing within 75 of the front door. He had a fanatical look in his eyes like you see in Hollywood films of a lunatic nut. It was scary to think that this is Lamonts base.
On Tuesday, Democrats in Connecticut showed the door to Senator Joe Lieberman, a patriotic adult who happens to be a liberal, and ushered in an antiwar Left opportunist who, until about five minutes ago, was a Lieberman supporter.
On Wednesday, al Qaeda reminded us that it will gladly kill opportunists of any political stripe.
The Democrats need to hold on to their patriots. The nation needs to hold on to the Democrats’ patriots.
This is going to be a very long haul.
Do you really think a Republican has a chance to become Senator in CT??? Come on!!! We would be better off not risking splitting & siphoning votes from Lieberman so that Lamont can squeak by as an anit-war far-left wing nut senator. At least Lieberman is Pro-America, Pro-Israel & Pro-Defense!!!
I couldn't agree more, Dave! And thanks for the ping... I'll alert the Connecticut ping list.
Alan Schlesinger, former mayor of Derby, CT. Here's some recent news about him:
Source: Taegan Goddard's Political Wire
July 21, 2006
In Connecticut, Bombshell Hits Schlesinger Campaign
The Hartford Courant sent a bunker bomb in to Connecticut Republican U.S. Senate hopeful Alan Schlesinger’s flagging campaign today with revelations that the former legislator was successfully sued for thousands of dollars in casino debts he ran up in Atlantic City venues. Schlesinger’s campaign was rocked last week by the news that, among other things, he had gambled in a Connecticut Indian casino under an assumed name, Alan Gold. His luck will have run out now.
Word of his gambling debts will renew calls for Schlesinger to abandon his tattered candidacy...
Hardly a viable GOP candidate, IMHO...
Connecticut ping!
Please Freepmail me if you want on or off my infrequent Connecticut ping list.
Its the Soros-MoveOn base
(Go Israel, Go! Slap 'Em Down Hezbullies.)
The NY Observer attempts damage control and fails miserably here. Schlesinger is damaged goods. He has no chance of winning. Which means pubbies will cross over in droves to vote for Lieberman - something the wingnuts didn't plan upon.
Lamont is gonna get trounced.
That's a perfect description of a fairly typical Lamont supporter. I'm sick of seeing them "all over the place" here in CT, and I'm really sick of Lamont's hateful ads, which were absolutely blanketing the TV and radio airwaves this spring and summer. Now we're going to have to endure it all over again from now until November... *groan*
Absolutely. See #13 for a small example...
I don't see where you're coming from. That's exactly the Observer's point. They're saying if the GOP is able to recruit Orchulli as a credible replacement candidate for Schlesinger, it's bad news for Lieberman.
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