Former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons, who announced this week he intends to run for senator, is slated to make one of his first campaign stops in Bristol Friday for the Republicans’ Lincoln Day fundraising dinner.
Simmons is taking aim at longtime U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, a Democrat who could be vulnerable in the 2010 race.
Bristol GOP Chairman T.J. Barnes said Tuesday that Simmons is one of the few people in his party in Connecticut with the stature to take on Dodd – and perhaps win.
The Lincoln Day dinner is typically the major fundraiser for the city’s Republican Party each year. Barnes said he expects at least 60 people to attend the dinner at Nuchie’s.
Simmons, who lives in Stonington, is in a dead heat with Dodd, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released last week.
The poll’s director, Douglas Schwartz, said the results “have to worry” Dodd since Simmons “is not well known outside his district, yet he is running neck and neck with Dodd at this point,” according to a Quinnipiac press release.
Simmons represented southeastern Connecticut in Congress from 2000 until 2006, when he was ousted by U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney in a razor-thin election.
The city GOP dinner, which costs $50 a person, is slated to begin with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., a meal at 6:30 and an address by Simmons at 7:30.
For more information or to buy tickets, contact Barnes at (860) 314-0423.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
32 comments:
Hurrah!
The Republicans are alive and well.
Well, maybe.
What day is it?!
Actually, Simmons is coming to Bristol to try to talk Ken Johnson out of running against Dodd.
Simmons has my vote already. Dodd has been there too long and hasn't done us any good for years now. In fact, WTIC AM1080 said that Dodd signed the agreement with AIG months ago for bailout money,
and it outlined that they would be giving the AIG executive bonuses and the amounts of these bonuses. Now he sits there acting like he didn't know and proclaiming that its a travesty. Give me a break CHRIS,you knew all along!! Wake up people! Enough of this guy fooling us and costing us more money everyday he is in office. We need new talent to represent us in D.C.
If ever we needed a change, this is the time. Thank goodness the Republicans have a good candidate who will serve us well!
3:58 Agree completely with your post. And let's not forget who had oversight responsibility for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Dodd's inaction was a key cause for the housing crisis and related mortgage woes. And he received big contributions from both. He definitely does not have the taxpayer interests at heart. He should be voted out.
Dodd got as much money from AIG as Obama did!
Chris Dodd, your hands are dirty. It's time for you to go. I have no idea if Rob Simmons is any better. I just know he cannot be any worse.
It will be intersting to see if pro-union, pro Democrat Connecticut can stomach removing a stalwart Democratic Senator. If not, we have what we deserve, Dodd
Right on folks! Dodd is out!
I would go to see Simmons, but I can not support the BRTC. Take it from me they eat their own.
GOP Gal, I agree. The BRTC are generally a committee of dunces. And in response to the first post, the local GOP may be alive, but it's certainly not too well.
On the other hand, Simmons is a great candidate, a great man and I truely hope that he can pull an upset over the repugnant Chris Dodd.
The reublicans may be alive and well outside of Bristol but in this city they are not.
If Ken Johnson and Ken Cockayne are the best the BRTC can come up with we are in serious trouble.
12:44
We ARE in serious trouble!
Did Mocabee and Dave P. kiss and make up?
12:44
So far, tthat seems to be ALL the RTC can come up with.
I love how everyone on here slams the Republicans - but have any of you walked or drove around Bristol? I might not know everything about Bristol Politics - but didn't the Democrats have City control in regards to Mayor for about 14 years out if the last 20 or so...And when has the Republicans had control of the city council? As my mom has always said - think before you speak!
Four out of 22 and one or two councils
Dodd just admitted on CNN that he inserted a loophole in the stimulus legislation that allowed million-dollar bonuses to insurance giant AIG to go forward – after previously denying any involvement in writing the controversial provision. .
“We wrote the language in the bill, the deal with bonuses, golden parachutes, excessive executive compensation that was adopted unanimously by the United States Senate in the stimulus bill,” Dodd told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer this afternoon.
This about the United States Senate. Yet some insist on going on and on about the local yokels.
Simmons is a great guy and do-nothing Dodd needs to go!
Who controls the senate Democrats or Republicans? Oh yea the Democrats do - and they voted for a loop hole in the Stimulus bill! Everyone voted for change! You got it! LOL!
I hate to admit it, but Rush Limbaugh is right!!...even when he is high on pain killers :) Where does the corruption end?
Dump Dodd!!!
Dump Dodd!!!
Dump Dodd!!!
If you want Dodd out, get involved.
Going to the dinner would be a good start!
See the Waterbury paper's front page today about Dodd's credibility crumbling. it's about time a newspaper noticed that.
It's exciting that Simmons' first real campaign stop may be this dinner tonight in Bristol. More good things from Bristol Republicans!
The ONLY good thing from Bristol Repulicans.
I hope the BRTC can keep Ken Johnson as far away from this event as possible. He is an emberassment to the BRTC and all Bristol republicans!!!
As a member of the BRTC I'm interested in learning more about what the Town Committee can do to improve it's reputation in the community. It seems like most of the negative remarks made on this blog are from people who profess to be Republicans themselves...
What can we do to make things better? Who do we need to include or reach out to? What are your ideas?
It's unfortunate that most of the naysayers also claim to be on our side.
3:55 = Ken Johnson....nice try. We can see right through you and you won't get our votes...so save your time and effort. And ours
Let Johnson do his thing: then more people will see him for what he really is.
3:55 How can you expect the citizens of Bristol to support Ken Johnson and Ken Cockayne?? These 2 are exactly what is wrong with the party. They have done nothing but criticize and complain about every move the mayor has made and have not offered any good ideas of their own. The COO idea was NOT a good idea!!!
The BRTC needs give us candidates that we can support not just over critical loud mouthed complainers.
Maybe Stortz wasn't so bad after all.
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