Republican state Rep. Dan Carter of Bethel announced that he is running for U.S. Senate on Monday, five weeks before the party is scheduled to pick a nominee.
Carter, 48, is an Air Force veteran and father of two who has served six years in the legislature. He acknowledged that his late entry into the contest may pose some challenges. "I know this will not be an easy race," he said, standing on the north steps of the state Capitol. "Nothing in life worth doing ever is."
Carter portrayed the Democratic incumbent, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, as a ineffective advocate who is focused on small-ball consumer issues such as the labeling genetically modified salmon while the U.S. faces significant issues, including the threat of terrorism and the lingering effects of a faltering economy.
"Sen. Dick Blumenthal has had close to 40 years to prove himself including six in the United States Senate," Carter said. "While Islamic killers terrorize western allies, Dick talks about the perils of AstroTurf. While real estate prices continue to crater, Dick talks about genetically altered salmon."
At his mid-day announcement on a snowy day outside the capitol, Carter expressed confidence that he will win the nomination. In recent days he has lined up support of the state's top Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano and House Republican Leader Themis Klarides.
A conservative Republican, Carter has voted against many of Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy's initiatives, including a sweeping package of new gun control laws passed in the aftermath of the Newtown school shootings. Carter, whose district includes Newtown, drew criticism for his stance but he said he opposed the legislation because it failed to adequately address important issues such as gun tracking.
Delegates to the state Republican convention will gather at the Hartford Convention Center on May 9 to chose candidates for the fall election. August Wolf, a former Olympic shot putter from Fairfield County, has been running for the Republican nomination since last year. But the Wolf campaign has been mired in turmoil: More than 10 key employees and volunteers have been dismissed or quit, including one who says he endured a hostile work environment because he is gay.
Last week Wolf announced yet another campaign team and on Monday, he disclosed that he is pouring $100,000 of his own money into his bid.
Following Carter's announcement, Wolf tweeted: "Welcome to the race, @DanCarterCT. You're a good guy but another politician won't beat @DickBlumenthal."
Two other candidates are considering entering the Republican race: fashion industry executive Jack Orchulli of Westport and former West Hartford Republican council member Joe Visconti who has launched an exploratory committee.
Fasano called Carter "a great guy" who would provide a sharp contrast to Blumenthal. "I think Dick Blumenthal has made mistakes along the way and hasn't pushed the issues that are dear to the people of Connecticut," Fasano said.
Blumenthal, who served as state Attorney General for two decades prior to his election to the Senate in 2010, has strong name recognition and a campaign war chest of close to $4 million. . Carter said he will have "an aggressive fundraising plan" to challenge Blumenthal.
"Now I'm not going to raise $4 million but I'll tell you what, this campaign is going to be about a good ground game and it's going to be about character," he added.
Carter recalled his run for the General Assembly in 2010, when he beat the favored incumbent, Democrat Jason Bartlett. "I know what a longshot race is like and I'm willing to put the work in," he said.
(c)2016 The Hartford Courant (Hartford, Conn.)
