This is good news. While Blumenthal was acting ridiculous, Linda McMahon overcame Rob Simmons at the CT GOP Convention.
As a result, Rob Simmons, the much more dangerous general election candidate, is now dropping out of the primary.
A Republican source says Rob Simmons told his staff Monday he will end his campaign for U.S. Senate at a press conference today in New London.
On Monday night, Simmons called a press conference for 9 a.m. in New London to make an "announcement on the future of the campaign for U.S. Senate," immediately prompting speculation he was dropping out.
Not only that, he's being a pouty sourpuss about it too:
Simmons has not notified Republican officials or the GOP's endorsed candidate, Linda McMahon, of his intentions. He did not answer his cell phone Monday night.
"He keeps his own counsel these days," a former GOP official said.
Generally, it looks like McMahon's Big Wrestling money is driving him away:
But a source who declined to be identified said that Simmons staff was told the campaign was ending, bowing to the difficulties of fighting the best-financed candidate in Connecticut history: McMahon, a co-founder of World Wrestling Entertainment who is seeking office for the first time.
McMahon, who had contributed $16 million to her campaign by May 1, is on pace to break all campaign spending records in the state by the Fourth of July. She says she has budgeted $50 million of her personal fortune in an effort to become the first Connecticut Republican to win a Senate race since Lowell P. Weicker Jr. in 1982.
Either way, I think the early disclosure of Blumenthal's stupid comments and Simmons' dropping out makes this race relatively safe again.