Caligiuri running for the CT-5

In case you hadn't heard, Cheshire's junior state Senator - Sam Caligiuri - is switching gears. He's no longer running for Senate. He's now running for the CT-5.

I wanted Sam to run for Senate and even encouraged him to run for Senate in the fall of 2008. But considering the last Q poll had him at around 4% in a five-way race, this makes sense for anyone who believes s/he will make a positive difference and is willing and able to run. I'm glad he made the switch.

There is an obvious difference though between the two races. Chris Dodd is poised to get himself fired next year. Chris Murphy is not in the same situation politically.

Sam could be Cheshire's next Congressman. But if Murphy loses, that'll be more because of the globals... not because Murphy was leading the charge to bailout Wall Street or maintain the secrecy of The Beast The Federal Reserve.

As I've mentioned, it could get much more interesting if Dodd retires and Murphy steps up... despite the likely Senate candidacy of AG Blumenthal.

And all of this is set against a backdrop of at least two or three other declared GOP candidates vying for the CT-5 nomination. However, I can only name one - Justin Bernier - so I don't get the sense that the other candidates are particularly serious.

What I like best about this is that my support for the GOP Senate nominee is now easy.

Peter Schiff!

But that support may only go as far as the May 2010 convention. If you don't get 15% there, then your name will likely not appear on the primary ballot in August 2010.

If Schiff's team knows CT electioneering, they ought to be able to get the 15% at convention. But I doubt they'll get that far. And it probably ends up being a Simmons / McMahon smackdown either at the convention in May or the primary election in August.

Tim White