Just got an e-mail a little while ago from Peter Schiff, the Weston economist who petitioned his way onto the August 10 Republican primary ballot. In it Schiff continues to criticize GOP nominee Linda McMahon of Greenwich for refusing to engage him in a debate before primary day.
But the real news is the other candidate he mentions.
“It’s too bad Linda won’t be joining Rob and I at the Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer debate on Tuesday, July 27th,” Schiff writes.
That’s Rob as in former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons of Stonington, who earned enough delegate votes at the Republican Party convention in late May to force a primary against McMahon.
Simmons continues to perform nearly as well as McMahon in the polls against Democratic nominee Richard Blumenthal, despite the fact that he told the media he was suspending his campaign.
I have a call in to Simmons.
UPDATE:
This just popped into my e-mail from Cashman & Katz, a Glastonbury-based public relations and advertising firm:
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ROB SIMMONS ASKS VOTERS TO LOOK AT THE ISSUES ON AUGUST 10 WITH NEW PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
STONINGTON, CT (July 21, 2010) – Former Congressman Rob Simmons has announced today that he will be running a television advertisement asking voters to look at the issues when making their decision in the August 10, 2010 primary. The ad also reminds voters about his placement on the Republican Primary ballot.
Simmons, who curtailed his campaign for the U.S. Senate in May, said that the ads he will be running are in the nature of a public service announcement.
“For the past two months, I have been travelling the state supporting my fellow Republican candidates,” Simmons said. “Everywhere I go people ask me if I am still running for the U.S. Senate. My response has been “I’m still on the ballot.”
The ads are designed to present the voting public with the information they need to make an informed choice.
“This year’s election finds our country at a crossroads and will affect our children and future generations,” Simmons said. “Reckless bailouts and tax increases have crippled the economy and cost us jobs. This failure of our current leadership will have a long-lasting effect if we don’t make them pay for these mistakes. I also feel it is important for people to know that I am still on the ballot and to provide my fellow Republicans with a choice.”
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I asked Chris Seneca of Cashman & Katz what Simmons is up to and he replied: “What I know is what I sent you. It literally just happened. He cut the commercial. It’s going to air this weekend. He still doesn’t have a paid staff, he still isn’t actively pursuing it. But he did do this.”
