Last weekís Rasmussen Poll showing Ned Lamont winning handily the Democratic primary and in a tie for the November contest has spurred Connecticut Republicans to renew efforts to toss beleaguered nominee Alan Schlesinger from their ticket.
Republicans now believe they can be serious players in a Connecticut Senate race for the first time since Lieberman beat gadfly Republican Lowell Weicker in 1988. First they must get through two fights. They need to get Schlesinger to take a powder, and then they must quickly settle on a replacement. Interest in the race grows in Republican circles in Washington, with the National Republican Senate Committee rumored to be licking its chops at torturing left-wing Democrats should Lamont win in August.
The route to victory, locals believe, runs through Schlesinger campaign advisor Richard Foley, a former state party chairman and legislator. He is a consultant to the campaign who wonít want to give up that sinecure before Novemberís certain humiliation of his candidate. Foley has defended his candidate against revelations of his gambling under an assumed name and running up debts that caused Atlantic City casinos to sue him.
Foley might accept a dose of reality from the great dealmaker of yesteryear, Bob Dole. Foley vigorously supported the Kansan in his unsuccessful 1988 and 1996 bids for president. The two have similar growling personalities, even if they differ in achievements. Dole could probably convince others in his party to put Foleyís experience to use in some forum other than the sinking Schlesinger campaign. Dole could also raise money to allow Schlesinger to recoup what heís invested in his campaign so far. And Dole would be helping wife Elizabeth Dole enhance her reputation as the head of this yearís GOP Senate effort.
Talk grew over the weekend in Republican circles about the advantages of offering the Senate nomination to Lieberman if he loses the primary. The 20-25% a Republican nominee would thrust Lieberman considerably past Lamont. Expectations of more Schlesinger revelations have moved from the if to the when column among party apparatchiks.
Lieberman may first have to get by former Republican state Senator William Aniskovich. The seven term legislator was defeated in 2004 on the heals of his to-the-last-ditch defense of felonious former governor John Rowland. Aniskovich confirmed for me this weekend that he is interested in filling any vacancy. He began today to make calls for support. Aniskovich, a dynamic campaigner when his interest is engaged, might have some troubled convincing Governor Jodi Rell, with whom he has had a strained relationship, to support him. Nevertheless, he is thought to be able to fund a fast start and then persuade donors that a three-way would be a contest in which he would thrive.
-- Guest contributor Kevin Rennie is a columnist for the Hartford Courant.
July 24, 2006
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