A pair of Connecticut political observers say that by entering the race for the state GOP Senate nomination, former House Minority Leader Themis Klarides becomes the favorite to face off with longtime Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal.
"I would say she's the frontrunner," says Gary Rose, chair of the Department of Government at Sacred Heart University, "and I'd be very surprised if she is not the Republican candidate for Senate."
Political science professor Ron Schurin of UConn says Klarides is a familiar face to state Republicans: "They have tried several times with candidates of deep pockets and it hasn't been successful for them. They've had some heartbreakingly close races, but they haven't been able to put it over, so I think they're now going to try to go with someone who's got some state name recognition and some governmental experience."
Three other Republicans are in the race, including attorney Peter Lumaj, who Rose says could be a factor at the state Republican convention in May: "Lumaj could potentially challenge her, yet at the same time I wouldn't be too surprised if... a deal will have been made with him to back out and accept another statewide position."
Rose and Schurin say, unavoidably, Klarides will be questioned again about ex-President Donald Trump. During her campaign announcement Sunday on WTNH-TV, Klarides was asked about the former president's "presence on the national scene," but did not respond directly.
"I think that is the biggest single problem the Republicans have here in Connecticut," says Schurin. "If Donald Trump were not in the picture at all, I think things would be much easier for them."
"It's a delicate walk," says Rose. "I think we all observed how that played out quite well (for Republicans) in the Virginia governor's race. You can't disavow your respect for President Trump, yet at the same time, you can't embrace him, either."
