The first graf of this Rick Green post nails it:

While the Democrats dither over Chris Dodd's chances at re-election and Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont thinks long and hard about whether he wants to run for governor, the Republicans are all of a sudden getting their chess pieces in place.Former ambassador Tom Foley - one of several potential self-funding dynamos in the 2010 Republican Senate nomination contest - is bailing to consider a run for governor. State Sen. Sam Caligiuri is out of the contest to run against Rep. Chris Murphy in the 5th District.

Former ambassador Tom Foley - one of several potential self-funding dynamos in the 2010 Republican Senate nomination contest - is bailing to consider a run for governor. State Sen. Sam Caligiuri is out of the contest to run against Rep. Chris Murphy in the 5th District.And just like that, the Republican primary field is a lot smaller, and looking a lot less like the messy free-for-all that Chris Dodd must have hoped it would be: one in which Republican candidates spent millions attacking and damaging each other while he quietly raises funds, works on legislation and hopes for a rebound in his approval numbers before Election Day.

And just like that, the Republican primary field is a lot smaller, and looking a lot less like the messy free-for-all that Chris Dodd must have hoped it would be: one in which Republican candidates spent millions attacking and damaging each other while he quietly raises funds, works on legislation and hopes for a rebound in his approval numbers before Election Day. To be sure, McMahon and Simmons will spend plenty of time, energy and money attacking one another, and at some point, so too could financier and Ron Paul-backer Peter Schiff. For the past week or so, Simmons and McMahon have been clawing one another over who is more firmly opposed to trying terrorism suspects in civilian courts, an issue neither candidate seems to have made a public peep about when a different party held the White House and a different 9/11 conspirator (

To be sure, McMahon and Simmons will spend plenty of time, energy and money attacking one another, and at some point, so too could financier and Ron Paul-backer Peter Schiff. For the past week or so, Simmons and McMahon have been clawing one another over who is more firmly opposed to trying terrorism suspects in civilian courts, an issue neither candidate seems to have made a public peep about when a different party held the White House and a different 9/11 conspirator (Zacarias Moussaoui) was on trial in federal court.But the chances for a multi-party brawl that actually eats into the Republicans' generic advantage to take down Dodd are growing slimmer. Not good news for Senator Dodd, no matter how the Democrats try to spin it. Speaking of which, how were the Democrats trying to spin this?

But the chances for a multi-party brawl that actually eats into the Republicans' generic advantage to take down Dodd are growing slimmer. Not good news for Senator Dodd, no matter how the Democrats try to spin it. Speaking of which, how were the Democrats trying to spin this?From communications director Colleen Flanagan: "For an allegedly 'vulnerable' incumbent, Chris Dodd may not seem like such an easy picking to the candidates running against him. In one day, the field of Republican challengers has essentially been cut in half, with Caligiuri and Foley fleeing for greener pastures, leaving a backbench defeated House member with zero accomplishments to his political name, a professional wrestling executive most notable for her dissemination of violence, vulgarity, and steroids, and a Ron Paul acolyte."

From communications director Colleen Flanagan: "For an allegedly 'vulnerable' incumbent, Chris Dodd may not seem like such an easy picking to the candidates running against him. In one day, the field of Republican challengers has essentially been cut in half, with Caligiuri and Foley fleeing for greener pastures, leaving a backbench defeated House member with zero accomplishments to his political name, a professional wrestling executive most notable for her dissemination of violence, vulgarity, and steroids, and a Ron Paul acolyte."Nice try, Colleen. The senator's not "allegedly" vulnerable, and the Republicans shedding non-competitive candidates is not a sign that they are having trouble making their charges against Dodd stick.

Nice try, Colleen. The senator's not "allegedly" vulnerable, and the Republicans shedding non-competitive candidates is not a sign that they are having trouble making their charges against Dodd stick.