Tagged: Simmons

Lamont Announces, Malloy & Glassman Respond

So it is finally official, Ned Lamont has declared that yes, he really wants to be Governor. Delightfully, and I say that as the pure political junkie that I am, this means all that Lieberman oppo research will now be repurposed. How green is that, in the brouhaha that will be this season’s political prize fight, the Democratic primary? Old rants about the millionaire from Greenwich can now be a 2fer.

Oh sure, the Senate Republican, sure to be a primary, race between Linda “Spandex” McMahon vs. Rob “Zenmaster” Simmons wrestling match is right up there. But that’s old mud. We thrive on new mud. Recycled mud, because, um, we are sustainable or something.

Out of the gates, like a Clinton era war room is the Malloy response:

“The contrast between us couldn’t be any sharper, or the choice more clear.  I spent 14 years creating thousands of jobs, balancing budgets, making government more efficient, expanding access to health care, lowering crime rates, building affordable housing, investing in clean energy, and improving transportation systems – without ever losing sight of where I came from or the obstacles I’ve overcome to get here.
“Ned seems to think his millions of dollars and his background as a cable executive are why Democrats should choose him over me.  I think he’s wrong.  I think Democrats want a nominee who has the right kind of experience for the job.”
And then the Glassman response:

“I look forward to discussing with Ned the many issues that face Connecticut. As a daughter of New Britain who worked my way through school, worked at the state Capitol and became the First Selectman of Simsbury, I know that the issues that face our state are as diverse as our communities. The people of Connecticut want jobs, a state budget that requires us to live with in our means, and leadership from the Governor’s office. This is a time in our state when the most valuable currency is experience and ideas. That’s what I bring to the race.”

“I don’t have a lot of money, but I do have a lot of ideas. Public financing gives me the opportunity to serve. I am proud of what Connecticut has done to equalize the playing field, because no office should be up for sale. Most people in Connecticut aren’t millionaires, they work for a living and so do I. The Democratic Party has always represented these people and I believe Democrats need to be certain our candidate will continue to represent all of Connecticut and not just a moneyed few. That is one of our biggest contrasts to Tom Foley.”

So there you have it. Ned Lamont is a millionaire like Tom Foley, wait did Glassman break a rule by actually mentioning a Republican candidate? Oh those back handed, carefully crafted pressers … this is going to be a good political season.

But lest we forget, the Courant covers the Lamon announcement and sort of shows why Ned Lamont just isn’t ready for life in the pros.

In a 17-minute speech to a cheering, standing-room-only crowd on the first floor of the historic Old State House in downtown Hartford, Lamont pointed directly to Sikorsky Aircraft’s decision to move engineering jobs to Bozeman, Mont., after they were recruited by the Democratic governor of that state.

“Why, Connecticut, are we losing out to Bozeman?,” Lamont asked. “We have the best women’s basketball team in the world. They don’t lose to anybody, and we’re losing to Bozeman. What would Coach Geno say? Go on offense.”

Well, Ned, if you’re going to try and keep jobs in Connecticut, havin the best women’s basketball team in the world sure doesn’t sound like a pitch on a skilled workforce does it?

As governor, Lamont said that he would be the chief economic development officer and would be personally involved in recruiting and retaining jobs, particularly high-paying jobs.

Ned Lamont, losing to Bozeman, one line at a time.

Cultural Expertise Matters

On the Republican side of the 2010 Connecticut Senate race, we have three candidates; former Congressman Rob Simmons, WWE CEO Linda McMahon and broker/author Peter Schiff.

In the primary world of reaching out to the your base, Schiff’s campaign hasn’t quite firgured out the local media network yet, McMahon keeps sending dead tree appeals and the Simmons campaign will talk to you any time, any where, any media. That can-do spirit is evident in this campaign video being sent around by the Simmons camp:

Speaking at the event, McMahon said the next Senator must have experience dealing with China and understanding the culture. True enough. But what experience does she have? In her own words: Setting up a World Wrestling Entertainment office in Shanghai. Seriously.

Rob was next to speak, and thanked McMahon — in fluent Mandarin Chinese. Watch the video.

Lieberman and Dodd kiss and make up.

Just when the pundits thought it was over for Chris Dodd, Joe Lieberman rides to the rescue. Excerpt:

Lieberman’s embrace of Dodd is the latest indication that the once-icy relationship between the Independent senator and the Democratic Party is beginning to thaw. Lieberman’s endorsement of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for president last year, coupled with his speech at the Republican National Convention last summer, infuriated Senate Democrats and nearly cost him his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. …

“The 2006 election was a terribly awkward time,” Dodd told The Hill. “We’ve been great friends for 40 years, so this was one of those moments when two people who had had a great relationship ran into a very awkward moment. He had to do what he had to do, and I was sort of stuck with what I had to do … But we just have a longstanding, deep friendship that goes beyond collegiality.”

During the 2006 campaign, Dodd was quoted saying his decision to back Lamont was “very difficult.” …

Today, Lieberman’s support denies the GOP the opportunity to drive a wedge between Dodd and Lieberman and feed a scenario that could split the vote against Dodd. It was just such a scenario that eventually defeated Lamont in the 2006 general election — he won 40 percent of the vote, compared to 10 percent for Republican nominee Alan Schlesinger and 50 percent for Lieberman. …

Simmons did not respond to a request for comment, and another possible opponent, CNBC host Larry Kudlow, would not comment, according to a CNBC spokeswoman.

A senior GOP Senate aide pointed out that it remains to be seen whether Lieberman will show enthusiasm for helping Dodd, such as by cutting advertisements or appearing with Dodd on the campaign trail.

Bit of GOP wishful thinking there at the end, and its interesting that Caligiuri isn’t on The Hill reporter’s screen.

This isn’t such a surprise. To the dismay of Lieberhaters, and the consternation of Democrats in general, Dodd was a member of President Obama’s whip team supporting Lieberman’s retention as Chairman of the upper chamber’s Homeland Security Committee a few months ago. Without it, Lieberman would have been relegated to back-bencher status and probably made an early and ignominious exit from the Senate.

That decision by the new President and Connecticut’s senior Senator has already paid some measurable dividends on the Administration’s policy agenda. Now it may prove to be a meaningful factor in stabilizing Dodd’s flagging political popularity.

We shall see.

Source: J. Taylor Rushing, “Frenemies Dodd and Lieberman make nice” The Hill 11 March 2009. Continue reading →