In the Hartford Business Journal tomorrow, Dean Pagani looks at the changing political landscape in Connecticut for the 2010 elections.
For the first time in a long time, there are Republicans thinking about waging statewide campaigns, not only because they think they have a shot at winning but to position themselves for future campaigns. That’s a healthy approach if the party ever hopes to be relevant.
[snip]
Despite minority status and the lack of candidates as political stars, Republicans see 2010 as their best chance to change Connecticut’s political landscape in a long time, The question is no longer whether to run. There is a sense the pendulum is swinging their way.
That is the sense indeed. Hopefully it plays out that way.
Also, as mentioned here, Rob Simmons was on Face the State this morning (video here). He didn’t say anything we hadn’t already heard, stating he would likely make a decision by the Ides of March. He brought his own mortgage papers and gave a copy to Dennis House, and Dodd’s mortgage problems were mentioned every few questions. He did fine, and sounded the entire time like a candidate.
Cross-posted at The Artful Doddger.
Steve Maley
Moe Lane
Dan McLaughlin
Neil Stevens
Who are the Republicans in Connecticut?
St_Louis_Conservative (Diary) Sunday, February 22nd at 9:11PM EST (link)We’ve been wiped out federally….are there any up and comers in the statehouse? Or any surprise candidates from outside of politics (i.e. Peter Schiff)?
Also, are these CT Republicans RINOs like Lincoln Chafee or principled conservatives like Don Carcieri?
“…..women and minorities hardest hit”
Good CT Political Maps Here
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Sunday, February 22nd at 10:09PM EST (link)some info below.
We should go after Dodd. Its high time we starting Dems on their turf. He is vulnerable.
Good CT Political Maps Here
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Sunday, February 22nd at 10:08PM EST (link)http://ctlocalpolitics.net/connecticut-political-maps/
Former Congressman Rob Simmons, a popular State Senator and Schiff have all been mentioned to run against Dodd. Hey we have to start being agressive sometime. To many Red State conservatves ahve been content circling the wagons around the tradtional red states, blowing off others, while the Dems are making inroads everywhere.
Republicans Governor, M Jodi Rell, is popular. Look at the map of her 2006 race. Blow out.
Accorsing to some they may be RINOs. But then again everyone who doesnt vote for the complete deconstruction of federal government are RINOs to those people.
If you remember, Ned Lamont got beat by a very weakened Lieberman. CT is a New England State, but it doesnt have as many colleges and progressives like MA.
It a suprisingly racially divisive state, much more so than ME, VT,NH, MA or RI. The Dem base in CT consists more of conservative Lieberman Dems and a decent sized black population than other New England states.
People like Chris Shays and Rob Simmons and M Jodi Rell can win. Those looking for Tom Coburn or Mark Sanford can keep pissing in the wind.
Actually I think Sanford & Coburn would be good...
St_Louis_Conservative (Diary) Sunday, February 22nd at 11:01PM EST (link)…candidates for Connecticut. They are good government, fiscal conservatives who do not really stress social issues.
I think you meant to say “those looking for Sarah Palin & Jesse Helms (to run in Connecticut) can keep pissing in the wind”
“…..women and minorities hardest hit”
Sanford, yes, but not Coburn
icbm (Diary) Sunday, February 22nd at 11:05PM EST (link)Coburn has made various comments on social issues, especially about homosexuals, that many would consider well over the top.
I remain a big admirer of his, but I doubt he would play well in Connecticut (apart from his fiscal conservatism).
Not Really
Swamp_Yankee (Diary) Monday, February 23rd at 1:19AM EST (link)Sarah Palin is fine. She’s a fundemental conservative with a populist and pragmatic streak. She empathetic and not a rigid ideologue.
Many people around here believe in the safety net. A guy lik Coburn would never win in CT. Not that I dont like him. I just get tired of the rigid ideolological idealism that cannot sustain a majority party.
I think Simmons is the best bet to beat Dodd.
CTVoter2010 (Diary) Monday, February 23rd at 12:16AM EST (link)He is moderate enough to have won the 2nd CD, which is pretty heavily Dem, but not RINO like a Shays. Rell I think is a safe bet to stay in Hartford, and she will be able to help Simmons on the campaign trail with her 75% approvals.
Caligiuri recently expressed interest. It will be interesting if Simmons announces before him whether or not Caligiuri would put him to a primary. I think Simmons would be at a significant advantage based on name recognition statewide, rather than the more regionalized attention Caligiuri gets, though he’s more conservative, at least in some places.
I think Schiff would have a more difficult time vs Dodd due to his Ron Paul connections. In my experience, Paul is not held in high regard around here. People think he’s a kook. I think that would put Schiff in a tough spot. Also, I don’t think anyone really knows how much of the draft Schiff campaign is from within. I know the founders are in CA, but without significant grassroots support locally, he’ll never beat Simmons (or Caligiuri for that matter) in a primary.
“…among his intimate friends he was better known by the sobriquet of ‘The Artful Dodger,’ [and] Oliver concluded that, being of a dissipated and careless turn, the moral precepts of his benefactor had hitherto been thrown away upon him.” – Oliver Twist
www.theartfuldoddger.blogspot.com
I'd Support Johnson or Shays. Simmons not so much.
EzOnTheEyez Monday, February 23rd at 3:17PM EST (link)Nancy Johnson would be the best of the defeated Connecticut congressmen to run against Dodd, I think. But I would also support Christopher Shays.
Simmons? I couldn’t really care whether he won or lost against Dodd.
"Stand for Nothing" Johnson and Shays? Are you serious?
Martin Knight (Diary) Monday, February 23rd at 3:52PM EST (link)Nancy Johnson is in her 70s and worse, both her and Shays are Fifth Column Republicans, potential fourth Senate votes for yet another Obamulus package who go around shivving other Republicans in the media for DC cocktail party invites.
No. Considering this is CT, a pro-life Republican would have to run a phenomenal campaign to have a chance at winning, so I’m perfectly willing to accept a pro-choice Republican – but get this; he/she has to be a Republican, not a linguine-spined content-free windsock.
Simmons is Worse
EzOnTheEyez Friday, February 27th at 2:58PM EST (link)1. Rob Simmons’s spine is much softer than either Johnson or Shays.
2. It’s not exactly uncommon for Senators to be in their 70s.
3. Johnson and Shays are both better than Simmons and Gov. Jodi Rell on tax issues as far as I am aware.
4. Regarding Shays…he hung in there supporting the war effort and survived a really horrific cycle in 2006.
Unfortunately there aren’t any great Republicans who could be elected in Connecticut, but of the Republicans that are available to us, my rankings are:
1. Nancy Johnson
2. Chris Shays
3. Jodi Rell
4. Rob Simmons