Simmons raises $750K in first active quarter

Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R-Conn.) raised $750,000 in the second quarter for his Senate campaign, according to a campaign memorandum obtained by The Hill.

Simmons entered the race toward the end of the first quarter, but curiously opted not to raise any money before the end of March and reported virtually nothing.

His total comes out ahead of former Ambassador to Ireland and primary opponent Tom Foley, who raised $530,000 after entering the race in the final month of the quarter. Another primary opponent, state Sen. Sam Caligiuri, reportedly raised $125,000.

The memo, which is written by campaign manager Jim Barnett and addressed to Simmons but reads a bit like a press release, takes aim at Foley’s total:

“We learned yesterday that Ambassador Foley raised about $530,000 this quarter, a significant amount, though less than we anticipated given his background. That you outraised a professional political fundraiser and well-connected Wall Street executive whose money-raising proficiency on behalf of President George W. Bush earned him a plum ambassadorship by 42 percent is impressive.”

Simmons’s total isn’t stunningly good or stunningly bad; it is about what you would expect for a frontrunner in a smaller state. But it is likely to pale in comparison to Sen. Chris Dodd’s (D-Conn.).

The Connecticut Democratic party just sent out a release labeling Simmons’s total “pitiful.” So expect Dodd’s total to far outpace Simmons.