Malloy-Lamont Race, Big Difference; Malloy Camp Awarded $2 Million

In 1994 I was campaign manager to Joe Ganim’s Democratic gubernatorial bid. Joe ended up as the lieutenant governor candidate with party-endorsed John Larson, now a congressman. A funny thing happened on the way to the general election. Larson got his butt kicked by State Comptroller Bill Curry in the primary. Not without a lot of teeth gnashing from us.

Larson had the support of Hartford party insiders, the we’re-smart-and-you’re-stupid crowd. Curry had the support of serial Democratic primary voters. Larson had a message that appealed to a general election. Curry had a message that appealed to Dem primary voters. Just about every public opinion poll had Larson leading handily. The party insider geniuses said it was a cakewalk. Joe and I responded that it’s a cakewalk for Larson in Bridgeport; he has the support of a popular mayor, Larson supports a casino for the city, Curry does not. It’s not a cakewalk for the rest of the state, we argued.

What’s Larson’s field operation? Any money for that? Have we identified Larson’s votes? Don’t worry, they said, it’s a lock. Better to look ahead to the general election and Republican John Rowland. But, but, but, but I whined. “Get away from me, boy, you bother me.” Come primary night the party geniuses were filleted.

Low-turnout primaries are different animals than general elections. Curry wins the primary, loses the general to Rowland. In 2006, Ned Lamont wins a Dem U.S. Senate primary against Joe Lieberman, but loses to Joe, who runs as an independent, in the general. That same year Malloy squeaks the convention endorsement over New Haven Mayor John DeStefano but DeStefano squeaks a primary win only to be croaked by Jodi Rell in the general election.

Does the primary between party-endorsed Dan Malloy and Lamont feature similarities to 1994 and 2006? Roy Occhiogrosso, a former Curry strategist now a Malloy strategist, says they’re completely different, and I agree. See Roy’s explanation below. And all you NedHeads are free to write in to tell me why I’m full of crap. Writes Occhiogrosso:

There are big differences between this race, and the Democratic gubernatorial primaries of 2006 and 1994.

In 2006, you had two people with very similar backgrounds and experiences: successful mayors, known as policy wonks, both from middle-class backgrounds. Very little separation in terms of experience, positions on key issues, and ideology. So it really came down to who was better known (DeStefano, by a lot – because he spent years being on TV in the New Haven/Hartford media market, whereas Dan had spent all that time locked down in Stamford, in the NYC media market) and who had more labor support (DeStefano, by a lot – largely because he’d spent years courting them and Dan hadn’t). Despite the edge in name recognition, labor support, and money, Malloy’s innate strength as a candidate allowed him to win a Convention he had no business winning, and take what should have been a comfortable win for DeStefano in the primary, and turn it into a nail biter (Dan lost by a little more than 1%).

In 1994, there was a perceived ideological split between Curry and Larson (I actually think they weren’t as far apart on the issues as many people thought). Curry was perceived to be the candidate of the progressive wing of the party, Larson the more moderate and conservative wings of the party. Labor lined up with Curry, the political machine lined up with Larson. Having labor and the progressive wing of the party on his side gave Curry a huge advantage in a primary because it gave him a real ground game. Though it was viewed as an upset when Curry won by 10 points, it really wasn’t. The notion that the old political machine could by itself deliver a win in primary in which only 25% of registered Democrats voted was just wrong. Interestingly, John Larson came back 4 years later, put together an impressive field organization, and won a primary for Congress. Lesson learned.

The 2010 race between Malloy and Lamont presents probably the sharpest contrast and the clearest choice Democratic primary voters have faced in many years. Malloy comes from a middle-class background, worked his way through college and law school, went on to become a successful prosecutor in NYC, and then a successful mayor in one of Connecticut’s largest cities. Malloy says his values and experience are what makes him qualified to be Governor. Ned comes from a very privileged background, and the main experience he points to that he says qualifies him to be Governor is that he founded and owns a cable company. Ned says he’s the better candidate because he has the ability to spend his own money against the Republicans, and that he’d run the state like a business if he wins. Malloy’s campaign is the first gubernatorial campaign to qualify for the state’s Clean Elections Program, giving him close to $9 million to spend in 23 weeks (close to $3M in the primary, up to $6M in the general). None of his own money, no special interest money. Lamont’s campaign is largely funded from his family’s wealth, though he’s also raising large contributions from individual donors.

The differences in 2010 are based on values, experience, and the way the campaigns are being funded.

Malloy Leads In Rasmussen Poll

Democrat Dan Malloy has extended his advantage over Republican Thomas Foley in Connecticut’s gubernatorial contest, according to the first Rasmussen Reports survey following the state conventions in which both candidates received their party’s endorsement.

Malloy earns 44% of Likely Voters in the state, while Foley picks up 35% support. Five percent (5%) prefer some other candidate, and 17% are undecided.

Support for Foley is unchanged from last month, but support for Malloy is up six points.

At this point, despite their convention endorsements, both Malloy and Foley still face primary challenges. Voters from both parties will pick their nominees on August 10.

Malloy picks up 42% in a match-up with Foley’s challenger, Republican Lieutenant Governor Michael Fedele, who gets 28% of the vote. This race has changed little over the past two months.

Foley now posts a more modest 38% to 36% lead over the other Democratic hopeful, businessman Ned Lamont who unsuccessfully challenged Joe Lieberman for the U.S. Senate in 2006. In early May, Lamont led Foley 42% to 35%.

Lamont now leads Fedele 43% to 34%. From April to May, support for Fedele dropped 10 points, but his support is back up from 28% last month. Support for Lamont hasn’t dipped below 40% since our first look at this election in early February.

In all these match-ups, nearly one-quarter of the state’s voters are either undecided or prefer some other candidate.

From State Elections Enforcement Commission

STATE ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION AWARDS FIRST GRANT TO GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATE

HARTFORD, CT—June 3, 2010 – Today the State Elections Enforcement Commission awarded the first-ever grant to a publicly financed candidate vying for statewide office.

Meeting in a regular session to review 15 grant applications, the Commission unanimously voted that “Dan Malloy for Governor,” candidate committee for the former Stamford mayor, had satisfied the legal requirements to qualify for a grant of $1.25 million for the primary election.

Notably, this is the first grant from the Citizens’ Election Program that has been awarded to a candidate for statewide office. In 2008, the Commission awarded 235 grants to General Assembly candidates. The 2010 elections are the first regular elections in which public campaign financing is available to candidates for statewide office.

“This is a historical day for Connecticut, as we continue to remove the influence of special interest in our political process,” said Albert P. Lenge, Executive Director and General Counsel, “I am extremely proud of the Commission’s staff, especially our audit unit who undertook a monumental task and reviewed more than $270,000 worth of small contributions between $5 and $100 to ensure that Mr. Malloy’s campaign met the required thresholds to qualify for public funds. These same staffers also gave the same level of scrutiny to the other 14 applications that needed to be reviewed during the shortened holiday week for this Commission meeting.”

Malloy faces Ned Lamont, who has opted not to participate in the public financing program and will finance his campaign privately, largely through his personal resources.

Last week the Lamont campaign notified the Commission that it had already spent $2.27 million, which exceeds the applicable primary election expenditure limit by almost 70%.

As a result, the Commission authorized payment of an additional $937,500, to match his opponent’s spending. In total the Malloy campaign will receive almost $2.2 million immediately and could receive an additional $312,500 for the primary election in matching funds based on spending in the race.

“Meeting the required thresholds to receive a grant isn’t easy,” said Beth Rotman, Director of the Citizens’ Election Program “but the fact that the Malloy campaign was able to achieve these thresholds and qualify for a grant proves that it can be done at the statewide level.”

Rotman noted that the Malloy campaign can now focus on communicating with voters on issues of importance, absent the influence of special interests and without the stress of perpetual fundraising.

Help The Burroughs

From Burroughs Community Center:

A Big June for Burroughs?

If the folks at the Burroughs Community Center have their way, visitors to the Fairfield Avenue facility will be treated to a “refreshed” community center by September. For the month of June people from all around the country can vote to bring $250,000 to Burroughs as part of the Pepsi Refresh Project.

“About 60,000 people walk in our doors every year” says Development Associate Laura Magnotta. With that amount of traffic it is no wonder that the 13-year-old Center could use some improvements like a fresh coat of paint, new carpeting and floor repairs throughout the 24,000 square foot facility, new carpeting and floor repairs. The most expensive part of the hoped-for renovations will be the replacement of 10 HVAC units. “They were installed in 1997 and have a life expectancy of 15 years” says Assistant Director Jason Macchia of the need to replace the units before they stop working.

With eight other non-profits located under the Burroughs roof and another 40 groups that use the building each year the improvements will be greatly appreciated by everyone. “If we are successful in securing the funding needed for these improvements, combined with the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club that is being built next to our building, the Burroughs campus will be such a wonderful place for thousands of families to visit each month. With the help of the public we can make this all happen” says Executive Director Kevin Simmons.

People can vote for the Burroughs project each day throughout June by visiting www.refresheverything.com/burroughs. For more information on how else you can help Burroughs win this award email Refresh@BurroughsCC.org