GOP candidate suspends Conn. Senate campaign

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Republican Brian K. Hill announced Friday that he is suspending his run for Connecticut's open U.S. Senate seat.

Hill said he hasn't collected the necessary number of signatures to secure a spot in the Aug. 14 GOP primary.

"I plan to support the eventual Republican nominee," Hill said. "It is very unfortunate that we did not get enough Republican volunteers to help get the 8,319 petition signatures from Republican voters, but we would like to thank those who did sign and offer to assist."

Hill previously failed to garner the support of 15 percent of the delegates at last month's Republican State Convention to qualify for the primary. Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon received the party's endorsement, while former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays secured enough support to appear on the primary ballot.

A former Judge Advocate General attorney from Hartford, Hill maintained he's the only candidate who could "shave off enough votes" in the cities to get a Republican elected to the Senate seat being vacated by the retiring U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman.

Hill said Republicans need to "think outside the box" when they choose a candidate. He said the party has tried to elect wealthy candidates from Fairfield County who lose.