Political Capitol

Peter Schiff, the celebrity economist from Weston who challenged fellow Republican Linda McMahon for their party’s U.S. Senate nomination and lost, said by phone today that they got together at his home last week for a post-primary talk.

“She asked to meet with me and I met with her,” Schiff said.

Connecticut’s primaries were held August 10 and McMahon soundly defeated Schiff and former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons of Stonington.

In mid-August Schiff’s campaign suggested he was preparing to actively encourage his often libertarian-minded supporters to back McMahon in the general election over Democratic nominee Richard Blumenthal.

But that never happened and I’ve wondered what’s been going on with Schiff.

Schiff made it clear today that he intends to vote for McMahon because he would rather Connecticut send a Republican to Congress.

But if McMahon wants Schiff to aggressively encourage voters to get behind her, Schiff said “she needs to convince me she’s more than just the lesser of two evils.”

Though a Republican, Schiff is not a big fan of the GOP’s current Washington big wigs and is wary of McMahon being a rubber stamp Republican vote versus a truly independent voice.

“I really want somebody in there to challenge the Republican leadership because I don’t like it … There’s a lot of Republicans who are part of the problem. I just want to know she’s part of the solution,” Schiff said.

He said he is not looking for any favors from the McMahon campaign. He said he simply does not want to be accused of selling out and abandoning his own principles.

“I don’t want to go out on a limb, say ‘yes, Linda’s the real deal’ and have her disappoint me or other people,” Schiff said. “If people see me come out and support Linda McMahon, they’ll know it’s because it’s really from the heart and I believe it.”

Schiff acknowledged that because he is viewed by some as “controversial” she might not want him to join her on the campaign trail.

And McMahon is making inroads with the Tea Party, whose leaders backed Schiff.

But Schiff said he knows there are other voters who remain wary of McMahon and see her as a rich woman looking to buy a Congressional seat. McMahon has in different interviews pledged to spend $50 million and whatever it takes to beat Blumenthal.

“If I can help change that perception I’m happy to do it,” Schiff said. “I just don’t want to be fooled by it.”

So where did he and McMahon leave things?

“I just left the ball in her court,” Schiff said.

The McMahon camp did not immediately respond to a request to confirm her meeting with Schiff, but when they do I’ll post an update here.