The secretary of the state's office Monday morning confirmed that U.S. Senate candidate Peter Schiff has enough valid petition signatures to secure a place on the Aug. 10 Republican ballot.
The money manager and financial pundit from Weston obtained at least 400 more signatures than the required 8,268 needed to qualify. He becomes the first statewide candidate in Connecticut history to successfully petition his way onto a ballot.
However the Schiff campaign still faces a pending complaint with the state Elections Enforcement Commission, which is investigating whether proper procedures were followed by Schiff's paid signature-gatherers.
Schiff, a loquacious Republican with a strong libertarian bent, will face former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon, who won the Republican endorsement at a party nominating convention last month. Also on the ballot is former Congressman Rob Simmons, who suspended his campaign in May.
"We are thrilled to hear the news that our efforts have proved successful," Schiff said in a press release after Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz announced he had made the ballot.
"Connecticut Republicans now have a alternative: a wrestling promoter or a businessman and economist. Given the state of our economy, I think the choice is clear."
"I look forward to waging a competitive campaign and defeating Linda McMahon August 10th," Schiff added. "I am confident as voters learn more about me, they will like what they see and hear. From fighting to remove the government roadblocks preventing employers from creating jobs to keeping taxes low, I am the only one in the race with the skill-set necessary to help get our economy back on track."
McMahon, who the Schiff campaign says had a battery of lawyers reviewing the signature-gathering process, continues to publicly ignore Schiff. Instead, she is keeping her sights firmly on the Democratic nominee, Richard Blumenthal.
When asked for her reaction to Schiff's presence on the primary ballot, she didn't even mention him.
"Connecticut Republicans are eager to take on Richard Blumenthal, and I am confident our party will quickly come together to stand against an Attorney General who favors lawsuits as a job creation strategy," McMahon said in an email circulated by her campaign.
"In November, Connecticut voters will be presented with a clear contrast between a political outsider with a record of real life experience growing a small business and creating jobs and a career politician, who has never created a job in his life,'' McMahon continued. "We will take nothing for granted, and we will continue working to earn the support of voters across this state. I intend to be the Republican candidate on the ballot in November."
The Senate seat opened up after Democrat Chris Dodd announced he would not seek re-election