McMahon Sees Simmons' Stealth Campaign
Ex-Rep. Rob Simmons (R) may have suspended his CT SEN bid, but ex-WWE CEO Linda McMahon (R) still sees evidence that Simmons is pursuing the state's GOP nomination.
"It's hard to imagine why he's left his name on the ballot," McMahon said of Simmons, in an interview with The Hotline yesterday. "I think he's hoping that I will fail, and that there are some -- that there would be some opportunity for him to reenergize his campaign and get back in. I think the public may be starting to grow a little restless relative to that stand at this point."
Simmons began the campaign as the clear front-runner, leaping to a lead when he entered the race last March. But McMahon, who has spent at least $16M on her own campaign, vaulted ahead after running early TV ads. The last Quinnipiac Univ. poll, conducted earlier this month, showed McMahon leading Simmons by a 45%-29% margin among GOP primary voters.
With the wind out of his sails, Simmons suspended his campaign on May 25, just days after coming in second place at the state GOP convention. Simmons had said he would end his bid if he didn't win the convention, but after finishing just 7 points behind McMahon, he made early noises about continuing his campaign.
A month later, Simmons' name is still on the ballot, his website is still up and at least a few staffers are still affiliated with the campaign. Several local GOP committees, largely within Simmons' old Congressional district, have reiterated their support for his campaign, and some newspapers have asked him to get back in. McMahon said the situation raises questions.
"For a while [Simmons] said that he was leaving his name on the ballot for financial reasons relative to fundraising and that sort of thing. But I think we're passed that now," she said. "So his name is still there and he is still campaigning for other Republican candidates, local candidates primarily, within the state, under the guise of helping them raise funds, et cetera. But he's still giving his speech."
The Simmons campaign would not discuss McMahon's comments on the record. But a source close to Simmons told Hotline OnCall their rival's concern should be indicative of how the McMahon camp views the race.
"It says more about Linda McMahon that she's concerned about a guy that's not even campaigning," said the source, who asked not to be named. "It's not a bad thing for the Republican Party to have a safety net, and I'd imagine there's a part of Rob that thinks that."
McMahon has support from a significant number of current and former officials, including the state's 2 RNC members. If CT GOP chair Chris Healy supports her as well, she would have the official blessing of the national RNC. Simmons' name on the ballot, she said, is preventing the party from unifying in opposition to AG Dick Blumenthal (D).
"One of the things I would really like to be able to do is to get the Republican Party on board so we can just be laser-focused on our November election," McMahon said. Still, she added: "I don't take the primary for granted."
Update: McMahon has spent $16M on her own race, not $8M as we previously reported.
Those two, McMahon and Simmons are both a joke. What CT really needs is Peter Schiff - who is ALSO on the ballot!
Vote Peter Schiff 2010!!!!!
A brilliant economic nind is alo on the repbulican primary ballot - Peter SCHIFF. Check him out on youtube. He has an amazing mind for economics.
McMahon is not a conservative - she could run the exact campaign on the D ticket. And Simmons - where do you start...he loves to bring pork back to CT, which plays a big roll in overall economic crisis.
SCHIFF for CT...SCHIFF for AMERICA!
Mr. Simmons has no chance of resurrecting his campaign in the next six weeks - short of a meteor hitting Ms. McMahon and Mr. Schiff forming an investing partnership with George Soros.
A few savvy insiders believe that Mr. Simmons is already looking ahead to 2012 - and the chance to take on Sen. Lieberman. But to do so, he desperately needs to avoid a third-place finish behind the self-funded Ms. McMahon and the Tea Party favorite Mr. Schiff.
If Mr. Simmons is able to eek out a second place finish - without really campaigning - he can credibly lay claim to front-runner status in the upcoming race to challenge Sen. Lieberman.
Shorter McMahon: "I bought this primary and I want it to stay bought!"
>Peter SCHIFF....He has an amazing mind for economics.
He has an amazing mind for investment. He's just another supply-sider, though, and that theory has been disproved over and over again, most recently by the Bush admin. Peter Schiff should stick to investment advice.
"Peter Schiff should stick to investment advice."
Indeed he should. There may even still be Some willing to Follow it. / In the wake of his miserable Convention showing followed by his Belatedly-begun, Narrowly-sufficient, and now legally-Questioned petition "drive" -- & in light of his weak 3rd-place poll showings -- Peter should withdraw from the primary ballot and give CT Repubs a Clean choice of the Wealthy ex-Wrestling Queen versus the Stealthy former CIA Operations Officer, US Army Intelligence Officer, Vietnam Vet & US Representative in Congress.
"Still, [Linda McMahon] added: "I don't take the primary for granted."
Indeed she shouldn't.
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