Simmons Campaign Makes In-Roads In McMahon's Hometown

Hearst Newspapers

Neil Vigdor

May 14, 2010

So much for a home-field advantage for Republican Senate hopeful Linda McMahon.

Two of the four members of Greenwich's General Assembly delegation are supporting McMahon rival Rob Simmons heading into next week's state GOP convention in Hartford.

In addition to the endorsements from state Reps. Lile Gibbons, R-150th District, and Alfred Camillo, R-151st District, Simmons also has the backing of former longtime state Sen. William Nickerson.

Simmons' campaign is playing up the endorsements, which it says is a stark contrast from the unwavering support the ex-congressman has received from Republicans in his hometown of Stonington and the broader district he once represented.

"Rob Simmons continues to garner strong support in advance of the convention even in Linda McMahon's backyard, not by spending millions of dollars on fancy advertising or passing out big checks, but by doing the hard, grassroots-level work that was the secret to his success winning voters of all political stripes in the heavily Democratic 2nd Congressional District despite being outmanned and outspent," said Raj Shah, a spokesman for Simmons. "That's why 2nd District Republicans are firmly behind Rob. Republicans who want a winner have a proven one whose character and unique background in national security and economic development is the serious experience we need in these serious times." ...

An endorsement in the U.S. Senate race will be made on May 21, the first day of the two-day state GOP convention in Hartford. ...

Camillo said of his support for Simmons, a decorated Vietnam veteran and former CIA officer. "In the end, I just thought Rob's character and experience trumps everything else." ...

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