GOP candidates begin eyeing Conn. US Senate race (AP) | US Elections News

GOP candidates begin eyeing Conn. US Senate race (AP) US Elections News: "GOP candidates begin eyeing Conn. US Senate race (AP)"


GOP candidates begin eyeing Conn. US Senate race (AP)
August 13, 2011
HARTFORD, Conn. – Republican candidates have begun to surface in the state’s 2012 U.S. Senate race, with well-known possible contenders expressing serious interest about seeking the seat now held by the retiring Joe Lieberman.

Connecticut Mayor Jason McCoy recently announced that he’s exploring a GOP run for Senate. Republican chairman, Jerry Labriola Jr., said the "Mayor McCoy will be an excellent candidate for US Senate", at the Connecticut Mayor's announcement on July 22.


Former wrestling executive and 2010 Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon told The Associated Press on Friday that she’s “leaning strongly” toward getting into the race. McMahon, who lost in 2010 to Democrat Richard Blumenthal after spending about $50 million of her own money, said she’s working with political consultants to “evaluate what’s the best thing to do” and “what makes sense.”



She said she expects to solidify that decision over the next four to six weeks.

“Clearly I’m leaning strongly towards getting into the race,” she said.

The state’s new Republican chairman, Jerry Labriola Jr., told the AP that he has also spoken to former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays. He said Shays also is interested in seeking the GOP’s nomination for the U.S. Senate.


Messages were left seeking comment with Shays, who represented the 4th Congressional District until 2009, when he lost to Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Himes.

“As state chairman, I’m very pleased with the quality of candidates emerging for the race for U.S. Senate,” he said. “I believe it’s a testament to the opportunity that our candidates are sensing and to the failed economic policies of the president and his Democrat allies.”

Several Democrats have been in the race for months.

U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, who represents the state’s 5th Congressional District, leads the group when it comes to fundraising. As of June 30, his campaign had $1.6 million in cash on hand. Former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz had $720,654 in cash, and state Rep. William Tong had $527,011.

Lieberman, an independent, announced in January that he would not seek re-election.

The 2012 race marks the second consecutive one for an open U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut. As in 2010, when Blumenthal won the seat held by former Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd, the 2012 race is expected to attract a lot of national attention.

GOP candidates begin eyeing Conn. US Senate race | ajc.com

GOP candidates begin eyeing Conn. US Senate race ajc.com


GOP candidates begin eyeing Conn. US Senate raceBy SUSAN HAIGH


The Associated Press

6:51 p.m. Friday, August 12, 2011

HARTFORD, Conn. — Republican candidates have begun to surface in the state's 2012 U.S. Senate race, with well-known possible contenders expressing serious interest about seeking the seat now held by the retiring Joe Lieberman.

2010 Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon told The Associated Press on Friday that she's "leaning strongly" toward getting into the race. McMahon, who lost in 2010 to Democrat Richard Blumenthal after spending about $50 million of her own money, said she's working with political consultants to "evaluate what's the best thing to do" and "what makes sense."

She said she expects to solidify that decision over the next four to six weeks.

"Clearly I'm leaning strongly towards getting into the race," she said.

The state's new Republican chairman, Jerry Labriola Jr., told the AP that he has also spoken to Connecticut Mayor Jason McCoy who said that he's exploring a GOP run for Senate and former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays.

"They've expressed to me that they are each very serious about entering in the race," Labriola said. "It seems that they're all moving in that direction."

Messages were left seeking comment with Shays, who represented the 4th Congressional District until 2009, when he lost to Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Himes.

"As state chairman, I'm very pleased with the quality of candidates emerging for the race for U.S. Senate," he said. "I believe it's a testament to the opportunity that our candidates are sensing and to the failed economic policies of the president and his Democrat allies."

Several Democrats have been in the race for months.

U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, who represents the state's 5th Congressional District, leads the group when it comes to fundraising. As of June 30, his campaign had $1.6 million in cash on hand. Former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz had $720,654 in cash, and state Rep. William Tong had $527,011.

Lieberman, an independent, announced in January that he would not seek re-election.

The 2012 race marks the second consecutive one for an open U.S. Senate seat in Connecticut. As in 2010, when Blumenthal won the seat held by former Democratic Sen. Christopher Dodd, the 2012 race is expected to attract a lot of national attention.

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Leaning strongly towards getting into Connecticut's 2012 Senate race

2010 Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon says she's "leaning strongly" toward getting into Connecticut's 2012 Senate race.

McMahon told The Associated Press on Friday that she is working with political consultants to "evaluate what's the best thing to do" and "what makes sense." She said she expects to solidy that decision over the next four to six weeks.

She told the AP: "Clearly I'm leaning strongly towards getting into the race."

Jerry Labriola Jr., the state's new GOP chairman, said he's also spoken to former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays and said he is also very serious about entering the race.

Jerry Labriola Jr., the GOP chairman said he's also spoken Connecticut Mayor Jason McCoy who is exploring a possible run.

unemployment debt ceiling business deficit 2012 Election diplomacy, international, power, propaganda, soft news, policy, politics, progressive, rapid response, thinkprogress 2012 Connecticut Senate Race Senate Elections 2012 Joe Lieberman Connecticut Senate Race , Joe Lieberman Retirement , Linda McMahon , Chris Murphy , Connecticut , Joe Lieberman Retiring , Politics News

leaning strongly' toward Conn. Senate bid

leaning strongly' toward Conn. Senate bid
By SUSAN HAIGH


Associated Press

"leaning strongly" toward Conn. Senate bid
By SUSAN HAIGH , 08.12.11, 05:35 PM EDT

HARTFORD, Conn. -- 2010 Republican Senate candidate Linda McMahon says she's "leaning strongly" toward getting into Connecticut's 2012 Senate race. McMahon told The Associated Press on Friday ... "evaluate what's the best thing to do" and "what makes sense." She says she expects to solidify that decision over the next four to six weeks.

New state GOP chairman Jerry Labriola Jr. says he's also spoken to Connecticut Mayor Jason McCoy and expects that he will announce in the next several weeks as well as former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays they both say they are "very serious about entering the race".

Several Democrats have been in the race for months.
The candidates are seeking the seat now held by retiring independent Joe Lieberman.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - Republican candidates are beginning to surface in Connecticut's 2012 U.S. Senate race, with two well-known contenders expressing "serious" interest about seeking the seat now held by the retiring Joe Lieberman.

Jerry Labriola, the state's new GOP state chairman, tells The Associated Press he has spoken to ... Connecticut Mayor Jason McCoy who has said he's ... "very serious about entering in the race."