The Eye

And as the blog Connecticut Local Politics noted, "every State Central Committee Member is an automatic delegate to the 2010 State Convention in Hartford" and "will have a vote weight of 6.3%, making it far more valuable than any other single bloc of convention delegates."

There is still a long way to go to secure the endorsement, considering the state GOP expects 1,600 delegates to attend the convention. But Simmons has gotten out ahead of prospective primary rivals state Sen. Sam Caligiuri and businessman and former Ireland Ambassador Tom Foley when it comes to rallying the support of the party establishment. He also has an early, but wide, lead over both men in recent polling of GOP primary voters.

In addition to Foley and Caligiuri, Simmons could also face competition from two Republicans looking to run as outsiders -- libertarian investor Peter Schiff and World Wrestling Entertainment CEO Linda McMahon. Schiff has raised nearly $1 million, thanks largely from the network of supporters tied to iconoclastic Texas Rep. Ron Paul, but has not decided for certain whether he will run. Schiff served as an economic adviser on Paul's 2008 presidential campaign.

McMahon's interest in the race was first floated earlier this month.

Neither has held elected office, though McMahon serves as an appointee on the state's Board of Education. Both have shown the potential to attract a lot of media attention, but their electoral viability is an open question.

CQ Politics rates the general election race a Toss Up.