GOP foes for Dodd, Frank

Two high-profile entrenched New England Democrats -- Senator Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts -- have new challengers.

Republican Peter Schiff, a broker, financial pundit, and supporter for Ron Paul, is in an increasingly crowded Republican primary for Dodd's seat.

"He inherited the seat," Schiff said of Dodd today on Fox Business Network. It's like he's living in the House of Lords."

Schiff also vowed, "I'm entering politics, but I'll never be a politician," saying that he hopes to be done in one six-year term. "I want to go to Washington because there is a real problem and I think I can make a difference and I want to leave and go back to my real job in the private sector," he said.

Other Republicans running so far are Linda McMahon, who resigned this week as CEO of Wrestling Entertainment Inc.; former US Representative Rob Simmons; state Senator Sam Caligiuri, and former US Ambassador to Ireland Tom Foley.

Meanwhile, Republican Keith Messina, a mechanical engineer, announced today he's running against Frank in the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts. In a statement, Messina promised a "fresh perspective," pledged to focus on jobs, and said he supports federal recognition of same-sex marriage.