Rock and roll hoochie koo. Here we go, one day before Tsunami Tuesday and the races for governor are tight.
Well, never let it be said Ned Lamont isn’t banking on a big Bridgeport win. So confident (or hopeful) of a Park City plurality he’s decided to park himself in the state’s largest city at Testo’s Restaurant, owned by Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa, where he and his operation will field returns.
A lot is riding on this for Mayor Bill Finch and Testa. They’re gambling that Lamont’s money–now approaching $9 million invested in the primary–will vault him to the general election and the governor’s mansion in November, and in return goodies for Bridgeport and their political peeps.
Not so fast say supporters of Democratic-endorsed Dan Malloy, former mayor of Stamford. A whole bunch of high-profile city Dems are backing his candidacy including former Town Chair John Stafstrom and State Rep. Chris Caruso who’s expected to challenge Finch in 2011.
On the GOP guber side Tom Foley, Michael Fedele and Oz Griebel will determine the Republican standard bearer. Several other races as well such as the GOP primary for U.S. Senate between Linda McMahon, Rob Simmons and Peter Schiff. Also, the GOP race in Connecticut’s 4th Congressional District to determine Democrat Jim Himes challenger in November, between Dan Debicella, Rob Merkle and former Bridgeport GOP Town Chair Rick Torres.
And let us not forget that cat fight to select the next Republican registrar of voters, Theresa Pavia versus Linda Grace.
Primaries are weird birds. They’re all about identifying friends and dragging them to the pols. I’ve seen it happen many times, a candidate has identified more friends than the opponent but came up short when the votes were counted.
Let’s hear your predictions. Q poll released today:
The Democratic primary for governor in Connecticut is going down to the wire with businessman Ned Lamont at 45 percent and former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy at 42 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of Democratic likely primary voters released today. This compares to a 45 – 40 percent Lamont lead August 5. Today, 12 percent remain undecided and 30 percent of those who choose a candidate say they might change their mind.
Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon is pulling away from Rob Simmons and now leads 50 – 28 percent, with 15 percent for Peter Schiff, compared to 47 – 30 percent in an August 4 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University. Today, 7 percent are undecided and 30 percent of those who choose a candidate say they might change their mind.
Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele continues his surge among Republican likely primary voters and now trails former ambassador Tom Foley 38 – 30 percent, compared to 41 – 26 percent August 5. Today, Oz Griebel has 17 percent, as 14 percent remain undecided and 47 percent of those who choose a candidate say they might change their mind.
“The Democratic governor’s race between Ned Lamont and Dan Malloy is too close to call and the Republican governor’s race between Tom Foley and Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele could produce a surprise,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD. “In the Republican Senate contest, it looks like Rob Simmons would need more than a surprise; he would need a miracle to catch Linda McMahon. But in politics, miracles do happen.”
Lamont 52 Malloy 48
Wyman 54 Glassman 46
Merrill 55 Garcia 45
Jarjura 51 Lembo 49
I’m Pumped up let’s go!!! I’m voting Lamont, Glassman, Garcia, and Lembo!!! Marlys are those citywide predictions or statewide??? The reason is Garcia will win Bridgeport! So are those state or Bpt predictions??? Garcia wins primary in a nailbiter!!!!!!!!! Let’s go Lamont Let’s go Garcia. And Jarjura sure as hell won’t beat Kevin Lembo!!!
Statewide.
I like Kevin, can’t say his campaign has been setting the world on fire, though.
Thank God it is almost over. I am so tired of being inundated with political ads, brochures and rhetoric & telephone calls. In one day I received 8 pieces of mail about the candidates. Enough is enough.
With this cast of characters both Republican and Democrat the more they talk the less they say.
None of them are going to have the guts to make the cuts necessary to reduce the deficit. None of them are going to make the cuts necessary to make this state attractive to new companies.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
Marc Spits!
Congratulations to Marc Delmonico for Swimming Across the Sound on Saturday!!! I know being the Republican Town Chair is a real swim upstream, but this is even a greater accomplishment. I believe he’s been doing this for several years, “Helping to Turn the Tide against Cancer” one stroke at a time.
Governor? Nancy Wyman, Jarjura, GARCIA.
I am back from Alaska. What a trip, went by Wasilla couldn’t see Russia from there or anywhere else I went. I went by where the bridge to nowhere was supposed to go. It wasn’t a bridge to nowhere, just an expensive bridge. The bridge would have linked a Ketchikan, Alaska, permanent pop. of 10,000 with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with the airport, now only accessible by boat. It was so expensive because it had to be built high enough for cruise ships. I wonder why anyone didn’t think of a drawbridge. It was a wonderful community; too bad no one handled the situation correctly. More about Alaska later.
Wow, what a difference two weeks makes. I knew Dan Malloy would zero in on Lamont. I am shocked by the level of negative advertising and the amount of wasted paper on Lamont’s side. It’s too bad people can’t run on what they have to bring to the position. Also looking at all the campaign material it brings to mind the preamble of the Constitution, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” We need to elect people to serve this end, not the bottom line for stockholders, not big bonuses for corporate executives, that is saved for running a business. Our government is not a business. The government is not a for-profit manufacturer of widgets. It is there to provide people with services, grow the economy, provide education, build and maintain infrastructure and provide security. We need a person who has had over 14 successful years of doing those things. We need someone who understands how to run a government entity. That’s why we need Dan Malloy and Nancy Wyman.
I know them both well and worked with Dan for several years, and I know he is the best candidate for Governor. He is the only one who has the experience necessary to go to Hartford and hit the ground running and be able to deal with a horrendous budget situation that needs to be completed within 5 months of the election. I have also worked with Denise Merrill and Kevin Lembo and I am supporting them for the exact same reasons. They are the most experienced and qualified candidates to serve the people of Connecticut. Let’s do Connecticut a favor and vote for the best and most qualified people.
Boy Oh Boy the preacher is back. You act like Malloy has run a holier than thou campaign. If memory serves me right Malloy started throwing the dirt around first.
BTW government needs to be run like a business and not a charity or not like a money pit for certain employees. We have a huge deficit in excess of $4 Billion with a Democratically controlled house and senate. What do you think Malloy is going to do that Lamont won’t do? Please stay off the soapbox.
You thought Finch was “Peachy Neat” too.
I was having such a nice day.
“… Let’s do Connecticut a favor and vote for the best and most qualified people.”
You heard MCAT, Vote Republican!
Photo Finish down to the wire. Could be some inquiries. It will depend on whose Pinocchio’s nose was longer.
Glassman, Jarjura and the Dead vote goes for Garcia!
Foley, McMahon, Debicella.
I was honored to be appointed to high-level positions by governors Cuomo and Weicker. I then served a short while under Rowland. I have seen them in action as I carried out their administrative mandates. I have seen the stressors. There is very little that compares government to big business except the size of the budget and going to Wall Street for ratings and bond sales. Legislatures; constitutional offices; unions; federal and local governments–the list goes on and on. These are all very different than running a business or non-profit.
Forget the ads; forget the slogans; forget the quick one-liners; forget the old baggage; forget the armchair chess game analysis of Finch going to Hartford and McCarthy taking his place. Forget all of that.
Focus on this: We are hiring a team to lead Connecticut for the next four years. We are hiring them to be CEO and COO. We need experience. We need leadership. We need a team that can put the right set of commissioners in place quickly and hit the deck immediately. We need a team that understands the role of the executive and how it relates to the legislature and other constitutional offices. We need a team that knows how to maneuver in this government maze and have demonstrated they can get things done.
I have personal experience with what makes Governors and Lt Governors successful. There is no question in my mind. The most qualified to be Governor and Lt Governor is Dan Malloy and Nancy Wyman. I am voting for them tomorrow. I ask you to do the same. It is important for Bridgeport.
For us in Bridgeport getting rid of Finch is important. The rest of what both these guys say is pure unadulterated bullshit.
What makes you think Malloy is going to tame a tax-happy spendthrift legislature? Please don’t tell me experience.
Anyone who thinks Malloy is going to go out of his way for Bridgeport is out to lunch especially since Finch put his backing behind Lamont.
Governor after governor have said they would be helping Bridgeport and the only one who did was Weicker.
TC, what if Malloy wins the city! Are you just voting with Mario? Vote for Malloy. No 3-card Lamonte!
Anna If Malloy just wins the city and loses the state it’s a done deal. If Malloy wins the state then I have to think what I am going to do and see what my options are. I read Hector’s post below yours and I might just do what he says in November if Malloy wins the state.
I don’t like Malloy period Plus I don’t like Stafstrom and that bunch of freeloaders, it has nothing to do with Mario and who he wants. I want Finch out of here and if it means voting for Lamont I will.
TC,
Separate the issues PLEASE. You are hiring someone. You should be hiring the best. I am proud to be a Bridgeport resident. Bridgeport needs to vote for the most qualified to do the job. Get out and vote for the best, not the expedient, not the means to an end; not for the guy who has money to outspend the other rich guy. Get out and vote FOR THE BEST: Malloy and Wyman.
TC,
The good ol’ boy system ain’t working!!! VOTE MALLOY! Finch will be gone next year! I can wait …
Anna, Malloy will not win the city!!! Go Lamont; Go Garcia!!! I will update from the field how many have voted when I vote in the afternoon. Paging Jfbr are you going to be updating us?
Sorry donj. I’m on vacation and won’t be at the polls this time around. However, I will be closely watching the results.
If you really want to make a “STATEMENT” show up at the polls check off your name as exercizing your right to vote (a right people died for), then vote for no one. Enough people do this and believe me, everyone will be looking to see what they have to do to get your vote (IN THE NEXT ELECTION). Staying at home and not going to the polls won’t work (too many people do that anyway). The “NUMBERS” have to be off. The way to do that is to have your name crossed off at the sign-in then run the voter card through the Tally machine (remember not to mark anything on the voter card). They will probably tell you your vote didn’t register. You can tell them that was your intention. EXACTLY!!! 😉
I heard a rumor and want to know if anyone else has heard the same? Mayor Finch claims Adam Wood is on unpaid leave while working for Ned Lamont. I heard he is actually receiving “vacation pay.”
I also heard Lamont’s records fail to show payments to Mr. Wood. Could this be, according to the rumor, because Lamont is paying him through a third-party business entity?
Loscare, nothing would surprise me about Lamont. He’ll do what he has to do to win this primary. I wouldn’t be surprised if half the DTC is on the payroll. There will be lots of money on the street tomorrow.
Even though I want to see Finch leave sooner rather than later, I can NOT in all good conscience vote for Lamont. This election is too important. We’ll have to wait another 14 months to get rid of Finch and company.
As far as Wood, if he is a double-dipper he needs to be exposed. If someone has proof they should come forth with it. Or give it to Marc Delmonico.
Anyone who votes for Lamont should have their brains examined, just a rich boy trying to sooth his ego and buy power. The middle class will disappear. The rich will get richer and the middle class will bear the brunt and turn into a lower class.
Save our state and vote Malloy.
TC, forget any of the nice things I ever said about you. I have never taken a personal potshot at you and you seem to do it every time I support a candidate you don’t like. Instead of saying what your guy will do, you go for a personal hit. I guess that is why you are supporting Lamont.
I think it will be a VERY competitive race in BPO. I don’t know why TC is so against Malloy? He did a great job transforming Stamford. Malloy 53% We will know this time tomorrow.
GO MALLOY!!!!!!!!! Don’t vote for Lamont, he will ONLY take care of the wealthy …
If Finch wants Lamont, you know he has to be BAD!!!
*** Malloy/Wyman, Garcia? To be continued! ***