The Day (New London)
Ben Davol
January 24, 2010
 
The latest political tome that has sent Washington and the political world all a dither is "Game Change," an entertaining look at the 2008 presidential campaign.
 
Not to be outdone, Connecticut's political environs are currently experiencing their own game change with the sensible decision of Sen. Christopher Dodd to retire and the subsequent announcement of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal to seek Dodd's office.
 
These announcements have dramatically changed the atmosphere and opportunities for elective office in the Nutmeg State. This game change in Connecticut, along with a strong Republican tail wind blowing across the country, will result in the nomination and election of Rob Simmons to the U.S. Senate. It could also lead to a Republican three-peat in the governor's office.
 
In 2000 then-state Rep. Rob Simmons took on and defeated the Goliath of the Connecticut Democratic congressional delegation, Sam Gejdenson. Simmons, a blue-blood cranky Yankee, who, unlike many of his standing, chose to go to Vietnam and fight, continued his lifelong public service in the CIA. ...
 
Connecticut Republicans will rally behind the only primary candidate with the experience of hand-to-hand campaign combat. The Linda McMahon and Peter Schiff campaign's, largely based on change, will begin to echo one another and wilt under media pressure that Simmons has already endured over a career of public service.
 
Yes, recent poll numbers indicate that perhaps an election is superfluous since candidate Blumenthal, the state's longtime popular attorney general, crushes all Republican challengers by 30 points. A Tufts University political science professor suggested the same after Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley won her primary and had a similar lead in the polls.
 
"The election is over. We have to vote in January, but the outcome is preordained. Coakley will win," professor Jeffrey Berry said in December.
 
That was just a mere month ago. Here in Connecticut, it is nine months until voters elect a new U.S. senator and governor. ...
 
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