Larry Kudlow 'Leaning' Toward Senate Run In Connecticut

Conservative economist and CNBC radio host Larry Kudlow is still weighing whether to run for the U.S. Senate next year.

"I'm leaning toward it. I'm not ready to make an announcement," Kudlow said Sunday in an interview with WFSB Hartford's Dennis House.

Kudlow, a Connecticut resident and former member of the Reagan administration, threatened to challenge Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) last month if the first-term incumbent voted for the nuclear deal with Iran. Blumenthal joined nearly every other member of the Senate Democratic caucus in doing so.

"I'm very disappointed in that vote. I think it was a terrible vote," Kudlow said in the interview. "I think he put party over country. We're allowing Iran to get roughly $150 billion. That is a huge mistake in my opinion."

If he does decide to jump into the race, the radio host would likely face strong headwinds -- Connecticut is currently rated safely in the Democratic column by Roll Call. He'd also be running against history, as the last Republican to defeat a sitting Democratic senator in the state was 63 years ago.

Although he declined to make an official announcement Sunday, Kudlow at times spoke as if he had already made up his mind.

"My argument is, again, national security and Iran, which I think is going to be a huge issue, and is now, but also on the economy. We need economic growth in this country," he said.

He also said that if he ran, his campaign would work to reach nontraditional Republican constituencies.

"I believe in immigration reform. You've gotta go after the Latinos, talk to the African-Americans, talk to women, talk to gays," Kudlow said. "I want the GOP to expand."