Schiff would be disrupting the plans of Rob Simmons, a Republican congressman from 2001 to 2007 who is already running against Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), but he’d be the latest candidate from the sprawling movement of Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas). Dozens of 2008 Republican candidates (and at least one Democrat) ran on Paul’s banner and ideas, and just this month Paul-endorsed candidate Steve Lonegan lost a heated Republican primary for governor of New Jersey, scoring 41 percent of the vote. When lightning strikes, Paul-backed candidates can raise a lot of money, get media coverage, and shift their GOP rivals to the right.