Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-CT), who is running in today’s Connecticut Republican Senate primary, appeared yesterday on Laura Ingraham’s radio show — where the two sharply criticized the national Republican Party for favoring self-funding candidates like former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon.
[TPM SLIDESHOW: Bringing The Smackdown: Linda McMahon’s Campaign For Senate, And Her Colorful Pro-Wrestling Past]
Simmons, who dramatically re-entered the primary in the home stretch, talked about how he polls just as well as McMahon against the presumptive Democratic nominee, state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, despite all the money that McMahon has put into the race. Ingraham then asked whether national party committees are favoring self-funders who would make their own jobs easier.
Simmons agreed. “And that has been the topic of some national news stories within the last few weeks, that they have focused very much on self-funders because their own fundraising has not been as aggressive or as successful as it should be,” said Simmons. “I think that’s a damn shame. If you look at the polls, I am very competitive against Richard Blumenthal, and I”m the kind of guy that can take him on at every level. I can take him on in debates on the issues, on serving in Vietnam. She can’t. The only thing she’s got is a checkbook.”
Ingraham asked Simmons what his message would be for Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele.
“My message to Michael Steele is, we absolutely have to focus on candidates who know how to do the job, who know how to win. I’ve won eight out of nine races in Connecticut as a Republican, which is quite miraculous,” said Simmons. “But you know, I devoted my life to public service Michael, and therefore I don’t have $100 million in the bank. When I went to Vietnam, I was being paid about 68 bucks a month. That was the going rate back in those days for serving in the military, and you don’t make a fortune. But I’ll tell you what you do get — you get the support of the veterans here in Connecticut, and other people who value public service.”
The TPM Poll Average for today’s primary gives McMahon a big lead with 49.5%, followed by Simmons at 28.5%, and financial commentator Peter Schiff with 14.5%.
Eric Kleefeld
Eric Kleefeld joined TPM as an intern for the final months of the 2006 midterm elections, and then kept showing up for work. His other interests include guitars, old comic books and the politics of various English-speaking countries.
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