Simmons holds lead over Dodd

Look for former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) to start harping on the idea that he is the only candidate who can beat Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.).

As Simmons prepares for the likely entry of mega-wealthy WWE CEO Linda McMahon into the GOP Senate primary, he maintains a wide primary lead and a four-point edge on Dodd, while other Republicans trail.

According to a new Daily Kos/Research 2000 poll, Simmons leads state Sen. Sam Caligiuri and former Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley 38-7-6 in the primary, while potential candidate Peter Schiff takes 1 percent.

But Schiff and Linda McMahon could raise and spend much more money than Simmons, and Foley is no slouch either. That will leave Simmons in the position of explaining why he is the best candidate, despite his fundraising deficit.

In the general election, Simmons holds one of his smallest leads over Dodd thus far, 46-42. In a July Quinnipiac poll, Simmons led by nine.

The new poll shows Dodd gaining some traction on the rest of the field, leading Caligiuri 46-37, Foley 44-40 and Schiff 47-35.

In a 2012 poll conducted concurrently, Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) trails in a pair of three-way contests that include Gov. Jodi Rell (R).

If the Democratic nominee is 2006 Lieberman opponent Ned Lamont, Rell leads 46-26-26. If the nominee were state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, Rell leads with 40 percent to Blumenthal’s 32 percent, with Lieberman at 23 percent.