Erstwhile Senate candidate Rob Simmons has apologized for telling a reporter that the presumptive Republican candidate, Linda McMahon, can’t win against Richard Blumenthal.
Yesterday, Simmons told National Review Online that he didn’t think McMahon would win. The NRO also reported that Simmons said he would tell McMahon he was “preoccupied” if she asked him to campaign for her.
But later last night, he told Politico that he was sorry for the comments.
“That was a little harsh, I probably shouldn’t have said what I said,” Simmons said. “I talked too much and I’m sorry.”
He also said the NRO took his comments out of context. And, while he wouldn’t endorse McMahon specifically, he did say he would support GOP-endorsed candidates.
“She is the party choice to the primary, and I’ve made my decision to curtail my activities to give her every opportunity to (succeed),” he said. “I’m supporting my party’s endorsed candidates.”
McMahon won the party endorsement at the state Republican convention last weekend. Simmons won enough delegates to force a primary, but a few days later he announced he would drop out of the race.
The TPM Polltracker Average shows Blumenthal leading McMahon 52.3% to 39.1%.
