Blumenthal's Potential GOP Challenger Emerges

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s potential Republican challenger may have grown clearer late Sunday.

National Review Publisher Jack Fowler, of Milford, announced late Sunday the formation of Jobs for Connecticut, a 527 organization designed to test-the-waters for what Fowler says he hopes will become a campaign for Larry Kudlow, of Redding, should he decide to become a candidate.

“Under the Malloy-Blumenthal regime, Connecticut hasn’t just gone sideways, we have gone backwards. The state has been consistently hemorrhaging jobs and torturing businesses from Torrington to Trumbull with senseless taxes and regulations,” said Fowler, who is committee chairman, in a statement to Patch.

“The time has come to stand up to the Malloy-Blumenthal tax hike machine, to stand up for small businesses, and to stand up for middle income households. The time has come for change, and as someone who has known Larry Kudlow for 24 years, I know he has the guts, backbone, experience and good sense to make a real difference for our state,” Fowler added in his statement.

Kudlow’s name has been floated previously as a possible candidate and Blumenthal’s campaign has already begun addressing the potential challenger.

Blumenthal’s campaign has described Kudlow as a shill for corporations and billionaires including Donald Trump, Hearst Media and the Connecticut Post reports.

Blumenthal’s campaign has stated that in 2008 Kudlow called laid off workers “whiners,” the CT Post reports.

Larry Kudlow is a CNBC Senior Contributor. He was previously host of CNBC’s primetime “The Kudlow Report” and is also the host of “The Larry Kudlow Show” on WABC Radio and is syndicated nationally by Cumulus Media.

Kudlow served as an economic advisor to President Ronald Reagan. He and his wife Judith have lived in Redding for 18 years.

Fowler said in his statement that, “There isn’t anyone better equipped to help grow our economy, keep our country safe, and shake-up business as usual in Washington than Larry Kudlow. As Larry thoughtfully continues to weigh whether he should run for the United States Senate, I know in my heart if he jumps in he will be a happy warrior for every Connecticut taxpayer and the tireless, optimistic leader our great state so desperately needs right now.”

On national security, Fowler added, “Larry believes we can and must do better when it comes to national security. We need new leadership that recognizes what a catastrophic disaster the Iran nuclear deal is for the safety of our country while also recognizing that America should be leading the fight to destroy ISIS wherever it rears its ugly head.”