Simmons launches last ad of his primary campaign

GLASTONBURY–Rob Simmons Friday launched the second and last television ad of his recently revived campaign for the GOP U.S. Senate nomination, a 30-second spot extolling public service and including an implicit jab at his principal opponent, Linda McMahon.

Simmons had stopped campaigning and dismissed his staff in May after losing the Republican endorsement to McMahon. He re-entered the contest last week with an ad announcing, “I’m still on the ballot.”

Neither ad mentions McMahon or his other GOP rival, Peter Schiff. Speaking at a Glastonbury American Legion hall Friday, Simmons emphasized the positive tone of the new ad.

“When you get close to election time – election week – the airwaves are filled with a lot of hostility,” said Simmons. He said he didn’t want to add to that.

“I didn’t need to do something shrill to get attention. I feel I’ve already established my reputation,” he added.

Still, McMahon merited one implicit reference near the end, when the voiceover reminds viewers that the right to serve “is earned, it is not bought.” McMahon, a former World Wrestling Entertainment executive, is financing her campaign from her considerable fortune, promising to spend as much as $50 million to win the seat.

Simons’ second ad buy will be for $250,000, which should, when combined with the last ad buy of $350,000, substantially account for the $885,133 Simmons reported having as of June 30. Simmons said donations have picked up since he started airing the first ad, but did not offer any figures and has not been actively fundraising.

He said he plans to spend the next week doing “a lot of media stuff,” a strategy he feels will give him the “biggest bang for his buck.” At the event he touted his two endorsements in the last two days by The Day and the Hartford Courant.