Conn. libertarian may run for U.S. Senate

WESTPORT, Conn., Aug. 23 (UPI) -- A Connecticut stockbroker known for his libertarian views and his pessimistic forecasts about the United States is considering a run for the U.S. Senate.

Peter Schiff told The Hartford Courant if he runs it will be as a Republican.

"I'm not running as an academic exercise," he said. "I'm running to win ... and if I can't run as a Republican, I can't win."

In 2008, Schiff served as an economic adviser to Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination but failed to make much of a dent in primaries and caucuses. Schiff told the Courant he has not voted for quite a while.

Schiff, who runs Euro Pacific Capital Inc. in Westport, Conn., has enough followers to have a raised almost $1 million for a campaign that has not yet been announced. If he runs, he will have plenty of competition, with three other Republicans already vying to challenge the Democratic incumbent, Chris Dodd, and a fourth considering entering the race.