Darien fashion tycoon Jack Orchulli, a newcomer to politics, is fighting what he describes as an uphill battle to unseat RPCV U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn
Senate candidate hopes he's in fashion
By Louis Porter
hStaff Writer
August 15, 2004
STAMFORD -- Darien fashion tycoon Jack Orchulli, a newcomer to politics, is fighting what he describes as an uphill battle to unseat U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn.
The name Dodd is "a brand name in Connecticut and it is universally known," said Orchulli, a Republican.
In spite of his status as a self-described underdog, Orchulli told reporters and editors at Greenwich Time and The Advocate last week that he will continue the fight and is confident he will beat the Democratic incumbent.
"I don't think he has had much competition and that will change this time," said Orchulli, who a little more than a year ago sold his share of the Michael Kors designer clothing label. Orchulli co-founded the business, saw it through a bankruptcy and recovery and built it into an international concern during what he calls "a lifetime of hard work."
Voters will decide this fall whether that work prepares a political neophyte for a seat in the U.S. Senate. Orchulli said he believes it does and also thinks elected officials should hold office for shorter periods of time, as well as have careers in the private sector. "You have too many of these career people who have never worked a day in their lives," he said.
Dodd's campaign manager, Matthew Rodriguez, said it was too early in the campaign to get into such political issues.
"The senator is honored that the people of Connecticut have chosen him to represent them. He trusts their judgment," Rodriguez said. "Nobody has fought harder than Chris Dodd for Connecti-cut's families."
In addition to battling Dodd's 24-year tenure in office, Orchulli will have to deal with lagging drastically in fund-raising.
He has gathered about $850,000, more than $830,000 of which is his own money. His donors include prominent Repub-licans Craig Stapleton and Prescott Bush Jr., the uncle of President Bush. Both reside in Greenwich.
Dodd had raised more than $4 million by the end of July.
"It has been difficult to raise funds, and I expected that," Orchulli said. Though he said he expects to garner more money as the election nears, Orchulli said "if we don't, we will still be credible."
"I am convinced I can beat this guy," Orchulli said of Dodd. "This guy can be taken."
Orchulli said Dodd's fund-raising should be an issue in the campaign. About 70 percent of Dodd's campaign funds have come from out-of-state individual donors, according to Orchulli and the campaign finance Web site www.campaignmoney.com.
Orchulli disagrees with Dodd on many of the issues on which the election will likely be decided.
For instance, while Dodd has criticized the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq, Orchulli supports it.
"President Bush made the only logical decision, to invade Iraq," he said. "It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that this was going to be a long drawn-out affair."
"At some point, the Iraqi people will have an education, both men and women," Orchulli said. "They will have some semblance of a democracy."
Orchulli also favors Bush's tax cuts, though Democrats have said they were geared to favor the rich.
"Low taxes is something I believe is critical to keeping America strong," Orchulli said.
Most importantly, Dodd has not done enough to deal with local issues and bring money back to the state, Orchulli said.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Byrd's home state of West Virginia gets $1.68 for every dollar it gives in federal taxes, Orchulli said. Connecticut gets about 65 cents for every dollar.
"He was smart enough to put himself on the appropriations committee," Orchulli said of Byrd. "One of your two senators have to want to be on that committee."
Dodd and Orchulli agree on one timely issue. Neither wants the federal government to block same-sex couples from marriage.
"There are a good number of gay people in the fashion business," Orchulli joked of his former industry. "I can't see anyone trying to legislate how someone lives their private lives."
Copyright © 2004, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.
