The Republicans running for U.S. Senate here in the fair state of Connecticut squared off in the first televised debate on March 2nd, 2010 at the Lincoln Theater on the campus of the University of Hartford. The field of three candidates, front runners Linda McMahon, Rob Simmons and the dark horse Peter Schiff took the stage to debate the core problems facing the residents of Connecticut. Over the hour long debate everything from government-run health care, and foreign policy to government regulation as a whole was poked and prodded and discussed to exhaustion. Each candidate seemed to toe party line and give his and her plans if elected for what they would like to accomplish in their first go around in the senate.
One would think that after all the attacking Mr. Simmons and Mrs. McMahon had been doing to each other via Press Releases, Direct Mailings and TV advertisements that this would be the true "Smackdown" event that Republicans had been waiting for, finally a way for potential voters to see the true colors of each candidate, put their money where their mouth or in this case press releases is, but what did we get....a Grade-A snooze fest.
The one candidate who distinguished himself the most out of the three candidates was Weston businessman and economic expert Peter Schiff. The relatively unknown Schiff who is and still remains the dark horse candidate was the one person in last night’s debate to actually go out of his way and on a limb to offer fresh ideas while also laying down a plan to get Connecticut and the United States back on a path towards economic recovery. Schiff is probably best known as the CEO of Euro Pacific Capital and better known on the daytime financial news shows as the man who predicted the US & Global economic crisis many years before it occurred (August 2006).
Schiff who has raised money via his website and "Money Bomb" drives has been relatively quiet since he first declared his intentions to run for U.S. Senate in 2009, quietly posting vlogs and blogs weekly to his supporters, but until recently was unknown to the rest of the state besides his libertarian/republican supporters. The last poll conducted by Quinnipiac, Schiff was only polling 4% far, far, far behind the next closest republican. But last night was quite the night for Schiff, in his press release after the debate he reiterated the idea that so many of his supporters believe true: “What we have to understand as a nation is that we cannot spend our way out of this current mess and not expect there to be dismal consequences. The next Senator from Connecticut needs to lead Washington away from the failed ideas that have caused the economic crisis and continue to undermine our economic recovery”. Schiff also stated that “It's time for Washington insiders to stop putting a bandage over our economic wounds and offer real solutions.”
So what does a young potential republican voter feel about the way Peter Schiff performed in last night's debate? I know you don't care but you read this much so bare with me a moment...So back to the topic at hand, in my opinion Peter Schiff won this debate hands down, no questions asked and really gave himself the jolt of publicity and energy that his campaign needed. I think the thing that makes Schiff so attractive to voters and young voters is that he actually seems to have new ideas and care and the ability to distinguish himself from the other candidates in the field. One of the things that I think Schiff should capitalize on is using this new found bump of energy and get out there and hammer the airwaves with ad's, doing this is going to get the young volunteers off their ass and finding ways to help with the campaign. Ron Paul (as much as I hate him) captured this perfectly, he was able to spread his message viral on the Internet and grow a massive grassroots following while distinguishing himself from the other candidates in the field. With millions of dollars in his campaign war chest it is my opinion that Schiff could do the impossible and thrust himself into the race and do what I like to call the "Huckabee Leap" and go from a dark horse to a contender overnight. Will Schiff finally take a big step finally and do something with his new found publicity and make the jump to contender? Well, If he follows Ron Paul's campaign strategy, which he has seemed to be doing, the answer to that is...No, Schiff is screwed, too little to late my friend.
Quote of the Night:
"Send me to Washington and that town will never be the same again."
-Peter Schiff (Republican Candidate for United States Senate)
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