Former US Rep Rob Simmons (R-CT) is planning on challenging weakened Sen. Chris Dodd, who has been a Democratic Senator from Connecticut for nearly 30 years. Simmons has been buoyed by a recent poll that showed him narrowly ahead of Dodd, 43-42.
Former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, buoyed by a poll showing that he is in a dead heat in a possible matchup against Sen. Christopher Dodd, announced Sunday that he would challenge the longtime Democratic senator in 2010.
Simmons, a Republican, has won eight of the 10 political races he has run in his career, including three terms for the U.S. House of Representatives from the 2nd District, which covers more than 50 towns from Madison to Stonington and Enfield.
Simmons made his decision Sunday after meeting with his family, close friends and minister after attending church.
"The family had a long meeting today and was unanimous that I run,'' Simmons said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "So, I'm running.''
http://www.courant.com/...
Personally, as a life-long Connecticut resident, I think it may be time for Dodd to step aside and let somebody younger take a shot at his seat.
First, he pissed off state residents by uprooting his family and moving them to Iowa in his ill-fated presidential bid.
Second, his response to his getting a mortgage from disgraced Countrywide Financial was a lesson in what not to do politically. Even though the mortgage looked to be in line with rates at the time, his continual delays in responding have put him in a bad light.
Thirdly, the potentially bigger scandal of his getting property in Ireland for a below market price is only starting to make the news.
With all of this, plus his stewardship of the Senate Banking Committee over the past 3 years, he is looking very vulnerable. When a long-time incumbent like Dodd only manages to get 42% in a poll against a mediocre politician like Rob Simmons, it may be time for him to hang it up.
There are some good Democrats in the state, and all of them would be preferable to Simmons.