Simmons
HARTFORD, Conn. (Legal Newsline) - Former Connecticut Rep. Rob Simmons announced on Tuesday that he is suspending his U.S. Senate campaign.
The announcement comes just days after his loss to Linda McMahon, former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, for the state's Republican Party nomination. McMahon will now face Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, the Democratic nominee.
"We all felt strongly that I had the experience, qualifications and opportunity to be that Connecticut Republican Senate candidate," Simmons said in a written statement.
"On this basis we set as an important goal to win the Republican nomination at the convention on May 21st. We fell just short of that goal last Friday."
Simmons represented Connecticut's 2nd District from 2000-2006. In the most recent Rasmussen Reports poll, Simmons was a double-digit underdog to Blumenthal.
Blumenthal has recently been criticized about misleading comments he made, including incorrectly stating he served in the Vietnam War. Blumenthal has since apologized for his comments.
Initially, Simmons intended to continue running against McMahon in the primary. However, according to his statement, Simmons decided to back off when he realized McMahon's financial resources were an insurmountable hindrance.
"Speaking for myself and my family, however, we understand the mathematical reality of competing against an opponent with unlimited financial resources who has already invested over 16 and half million dollars in this campaign -- by far more than any Senate candidate in the country -- and who has an unlimited ability to continue spending at an extraordinary rate," Simmons said.