Blumenthal trounces GOP opponents in early CT poll; Simmons, McMahon fire back

A new poll has Republican candidate Rob Simmons charging he is better suited than his GOP colleagues to take on Democratic Attorney General Richard Blumenthal in the race to fill Sen. Chris Dodd's (D-Conn.) open seat.

Problem is, the entire Republican field trails Blumenthal by 35 points -- at best.

Quinnipiac's numbers, released Thursday, reveal the dramatic shift in dynamic that has followed Dodd's decision to retire in 2010. The incumbent's seat previously seemed vulnerable, but the odds of a shakeup have reversed now that Blumenthal has taken up his party's banner.
 
The attorney general bests Simmons by 35 points, businessman Peter Schiff (R) by 47 points and wrestler-turned-politician Linda McMahon (R) by 41 points, according to Quinnipiac. Predictably, Blumenthal also fares well among members of his own party, trouncing fellow Democrat Merrick Alpert by almost 80 points, pollsters found

Those numbers spell bad news for Connecticut's three Republicans -- Simmons especially, as he at one point was besting Dodd by single digits in preliminary polls.

Still, Thursday's news hardly seemed to deter Simmons, who used it as fodder in his latest attack against McMahon.

"Despite millions and millions of dollars spent on advertising, Linda McMahon has still been unable to buy a lead in the race for the Republican nomination," he said. "Voters in Connecticut are clearly expressing their skepticism about her qualifications and her inability to address their deep concerns about her financial support for Democratic candidates, threats to run as an independent candidate, and controversial pro wrestling career which is funding her campaign."

Simmons also took a shot at Blumenthal, suggesting his early lead would not materialize as the general election drew nearer.
   
"Once Rob Simmons is the Republican nominee, Richard Blumenthal will have to face - for the first time in his career - a battle-tested, proven winner who has the experience, vision and know how to defeat him," Simmons said. 

[Update, 12:35 p.m.] McMahon, too, tried to capitalize on the pool's seemingly dismal numbers. In her own statement, she stressed her campaign was "growing momentum" -- unlike Simmons, who has watched his lead disappear. McMahon also revived her long-standing charge against Dodd -- that he was an "establishment candidate -- and hurled it at Democrats' new candidate.

“Since Linda entered this race four months ago, Rob Simmons’ numbers have fallen precipitously and the 38-point lead he once enjoyed has evaporated," her campaign said. "This election will be a referendum on Washington’s failed and deeply unpopular economic policies, virtually all of which are indistinguishable from Dick Blumenthal’s positions. That will inevitably bring his numbers down in the months to come.”

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