Former Rep. Rob Simmons (R) has nabbed the endorsement of former Sen. Fred Thompson (R-Tenn.) in his bid against Sen. Chris Dodd (D).

“I am pleased to enthusiastically support Rob Simmons in his bid for the Senate,— Thompson said in a statement from the Simmons campaign.

Public polls have shown Dodd trailing Simmons, but he is just one of several Republicans running for the GOP nod in the Nutmeg State. State Sen. Sam Caligiuri and former Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley are also running.