Republican Candidates for U.S. Senate Nomination

The Hartford Courant is reporting: "Alan Schlesinger, a former six-term state representative and mayor of Derby, announced Monday he will seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate." The Hartford Courant earlier reported that Schlesinger is a "tax attorney who graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Finance." According to the Journal Inquirer, Schlesinger is a self-described "moderate conservative."

Let's take a look at the potential nominees:
Schlesinger, 48, "must compete with Paul Streitz, a Darien resident who also is seeking the Republican nomination." Streitz, a 62 year old Vietnam veteran, is the co-founder of Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Control and author of the book "Oxford, Son of Queen Elizabeth I." His platform includes setting a timetable for bringing our troops back from Iraq, tougher illegal immigration controls, and a repeal of NAFTA and other trade bills. (Interestingly enough, Streitz position on Iraq is seemingly more akin to the Democrats than that of Senator Lieberman.) Streitz sought to unseat Sen. Dodd in 2004, but gained only 26 delegates to eventual Republican nominee Jack Orchulli's 713.

Orchulli, who lost by a landslide (34 percentage points) to Sen. Dodd in 2004, said as recently as Friday that he is still considering another run for the Senate.

At least one CT Republican, Representative Chris Shays, has confirmed that the party is considering cross-endorsing Senator Lieberman.

The Republican party will endorse a candidate on May 20.

For more information on Schlesinger and Streitz please see this March 23 article from the Journal Inquirer:
http://www.journalinquirer.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16358808&BRD=985&PAG=461&dept_id=161556&rfi=6

For Mr. Streitz's campaing website, please see: http://www.streitzforsenate.com/