Posted on 03/22/2009 12:01:16 PM PDT by neverdem
Three days after announcing his plan to take on Connecticut's senior senator, Rob Simmons breezed past a bunch of kids sitting in the gym of the Regional Multicultural Magnet School in New London.
It wasn't a political appearance: Simmons was here to talk about moon rocks. "You want to shake the hand of the man who shook the hand of the man who went to the moon?" said the lanky 66-year-old with thinning gray hair and a toothy grin.
A former congressman who was swept aside in the 2006 Democratic wave, Simmons long has been known as a fiscally conservative, socially liberal Republican with a penchant for colorful ties and an exuberant demeanor.
Suddenly, though, he is becoming known as something else: The anti-Dodd.
And right now, that's not a bad thing to be.
U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd has long enjoyed a Teflon reputation — and the blowout vote margins that come with it. But now, Dodd is facing a barrage of criticism on everything from the refinancing of two mortgages to his decision to move his family to Iowa during his 2008 presidential run to his ownership of a cottage in Ireland. Last week's political tempest over his role in paving the way for the AIG bonuses raised new questions about his credibility.
"It's just one thing after another," observed Kenneth Dautrich, a political scientist at the University of Connecticut. "Any legitimate Republican candidate could potentially have a field day on...."
--snip--
A poll released earlier this month by Quinnipiac University showed Simmons in a virtual tie with Dodd. The same poll had Dodd besting Caligiuri, 47 percent to 34 percent, and Kudlow, 46 percent to 34 percent. Both possible contenders have low name-recognition numbers among voters, according to the poll, which did not include questions about Foley...
(Excerpt) Read more at courant.com ...
The anti-Dodd? Hah, that’s funny.
Dodd looks toxic, IMHO.
Too bad most of these self-proclaimed “Fiscally Conservative, Socially Liberal” Republicans from the Northeast too often bail out on their fiscal conservatism once they get to Washington.
Too bad Simmons is 100% pro abortion and got an A from NARAL. Going to be hard for people like me to vote for him, as bad as Dodd is. If they force Dodd to step aside I suppose some other Dem will be a shoo in.
“Going to be hard for people like me to vote for him, as bad as Dodd is.”
Be happy there’s anything conservative about Simmons at all. I’m out here on the left coast & usually have a choice of a left-wing R or a really left-wing D. And please remember the most important thing is to GET RID OF DODD!!! Anyone has got to be an improvement.
Too bad you are so block-headed on social issues, you are willing to send this country down a financial gutter for it.
I am against abortion as much as the next guy on this forum, but who in their right mind would bring a child into this world as a slave of communism.
It’s the Republican party’s continuous bickering over social issues that has led us into this perilous economic situation.
None of the RINO's in the House right now are backing Obama on the stimulus, for example.
Theyll go along with a strong Pubbie President, thats all you need to hope for.
Yea, that’s real nice of them now. After they were almost just as bad when they were in power.
Bickering is one thing. But when you have a Republican who is endorsed by NARAL I find it hard to get excited. Am I supposed to support a guy who even votes against banning partial birth abortion? Maybe we would be better off if Larry Kudlow is the nominee.
Oh goody...another RINO in the U.S. Senate. Guess that beats a Dodd though.
Where does dumb@ss Simmons think the money for all those social programs come from, anyway? Stupid Main Street “republican” idiot.
Except that Bush was a POS RINO compassionate socialist like his old man, so lets not bring that up.
I wish Glenn Beck would run.
Great right back to the same Crap ,another RINO
Would CT vote for a good conservative with no real track record or name recognition?
I doubt it.
You need to get some into statewide positions first, then run them for the senate or governor’s mansion.
THis guy is probably a RINO-wouldn’t it be better to recruit Peter Schiff or Larry Kudlowe?
Dodd is no better than an even bet to win reelection.
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