Simmons ends campaign for US Senate seat in Conn. but keeps name on GOP primary ballot

Simmons ends campaign for US Senate seat in Conn.

NEW LONDON, Conn. — Former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons says he’s ending his campaign in Connecticut for U.S. Senate but keeping his name on the Republican primary ballot, after losing the endorsement of party leaders to ex-wrestling executive Linda McMahon.

Simmons said Tuesday that he understood the “mathematical reality” of competing against McMahon. She has pledged to spend $50 million of her own on the race.

Simmons narrowly lost the GOP nomination to McMahon on Friday. The nomination gives McMahon the party’s financial backing, but she will again face off against Simmons in an August primary because he earned enough delegates to qualify for the ballot.

McMahon’s camp has taken credit for research that led to a news report last week that Democratic candidate Richard Blumenthal distorted his Vietnam-era military service record.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

NEW LONDON, Conn. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Rob Simmons said Tuesday that he’s no longer campaigning in the Connecticut U.S. Senate race, days after vowing to challenge former wrestling executive Linda McMahon in a Republican primary.

Simmons made the announcement on WXLM-FM in New London, but he stopped short of definitively saying he was dropping out of the race. He said he was releasing all his staff, ceasing fundraising and would no longer issue news releases.

Simmons planned an announcement later Tuesday morning. A Republican with knowledge of Simmons’ plans told The Associated Press that Simmons is expected to withdraw from the race.

“I will no longer be campaigning,” Simmons said during the radio interview. “We’ll curtail campaign activities. Not an easy decision, not a happy decision for me at all, but I think it’s the right decision.”

Simmons narrowly lost the GOP nomination Friday to McMahon in the race to succeed retiring Democrat Christopher Dodd. Simmons had been the front-runner in January when Dodd was still in the race.

Democrats nominated state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who has recently been criticized for misstating his military record during the Vietnam War.

Simmons says he was disappointed with the convention because he thought he was going to win because of his experience. The decorated Vietnam veteran served three terms in the U.S. House before losing the 2006 election by just 83 votes to Democrat Joe Courtney.

Simmons said McMahon’s bankroll was a factor in his decision, nothing that she has already spent more than $16 million. McMahon has vowed to spend $50 million of her own money on the campaign.

“It’s an unbelievable amount of dough,” Simmons said, “and I that I think has just twisted people into thinking that the money is going to buy the race. And so, what the heck, let’s shut it down and let’s move forward.”

A spokesman for McMahon said her campaign would issue a statement about Simmons later Tuesday.