Next weekend starting May 16, Democrats and Republicans will endorse candidates for governor at their respective party conventions. Governor Dan Malloy will be nominated by acclamation while Republicans slug it out for an endorsement and likely August primary. No matter the Republican standard bearer, Malloy has a battle on his hands in November barring all the GOP candidates caught partying in a hot tub sipping champagne and smoking cigars with former Governor John Rowland. And the state’s largest city will be key to Malloy’s reelection.
Malloy’s in progressive overdrive–minimum wage increase, expanding early childhood education, affordable housing initiatives–to recapture a Democratic base and appeal to the larger unaffiliated voters turned off by the largest tax increase in state history to close an inherited, historic, deficit, an economy struggling to show long-term life and rank-and-file school teachers repulsed by Malloy’s education policies including an embrace of Common Core standards. Malloy has relaxed some of his classroom standards that have turned off teachers. In fact, Malloy declared this week Teacher Appreciation Week.
During the past couple of weeks, Malloy has faced some bad financial news. After crowing about a $500 million surplus with a promise to return $55 to individuals and $110 to families, Malloy was forced to reverse himself (in an oops! moment) when state bean counters advised their revenue projection had fallen flat by $400 million. (That prehistoric noise you just heard was from the governor yelling at his financial people, does anyone know how to play this game!) So it goes in the volatile world of financial politics in an election year.
It’s never good to alert taxpayers we overtaxed you, we’re giving you some of your money back and then say eek! we screwed up. What was really a financial token morphs into the worst enemy of a politician–ridicule.
Worse for Malloy is the specter of former legislator turned blogger Jonathan Pelto nipping at the governor’s heels like a Chihuahua. Pelto is trying to figure out a way to get himself on the ballot for the general election in November which will assuredly poach votes from Malloy, particularly teachers and other union members who feel betrayed by Malloy’s break from a coalition that supported him in his razor-thin victory over Republican Tom Foley in 2010.
Even if Pelto doesn’t place his name on the ballot, Malloy needs to figure out a way to galvanize urban voters who were inspired by Barack Obama coming to Bridgeport days before the general election four years ago. Even with that, the Bridgeport turnout was about one third, irrespective of an election-day ballot shortage that created long lines and short tempers. What will it be this year? Malloy still has plenty of time to build upon initiatives he has supported in Bridgeport such as a $30 million commitment to advance construction of a Bass Pro Shops in the Steel Point redevelopment area. Will a crane be in the air this summer?
“The Republicans will be coming with their guns loaded,” says Ernie Newton who’s tracking to receive the endorsement for a comeback to the state legislature. “Four years ago the President of the United States came to Bridgeport to encourage votes for Malloy and others.The governor will need to excite the grassroots people. Is a Republican better than a Democrat? Malloy needs to explain to black voters why he’s better because he’s now running on a record. I, for one, have not made up my mind to support him.”
One political operative who has made up her mind not to support Malloy is Maria Pereira, the former Board of Education member, who bolted from affiliation with the Connecticut Working Families Party in a dispute over Malloy’s 2011 support for state control of city schools that was overturned by the Connecticut Supreme Court. Pereira recently resigned from the WFP declaring she cannot embrace an organization that supports Malloy. In 2010, Foley received more votes on the Republican line than Malloy on the Democratic line. The votes Malloy received also running on the WFP line made the difference.
Can Malloy win another four-year term? Yes. He’ll be well financed and controls the candy store to make things happen. But it’s looking more like he’ll need to run a near-perfect race or hope all those Republicans are caught in a hot tub with Rowland.
Malloy navigated the state through some horrific events like Sandy Hook and Mother Nature’s fury. He grades out an A for how he handled himself.
As far as his politics, he handed out more jobs to his election helpers than Finch does, I do not see that changing if he wins including taking Finch to Hartford if Malloy does well in Bpt again.
BPT REBEL, now you’ve hit on something. If Malloy wins and takes Finch to Hartford because Malloy does well in Bridgeport again, it’s worth the trip.
If that happens we are stuck with McCarthy until a special election is held and Fabrizi is banking on this as he has made the rounds.
I’ve heard of a few job offers he has made if he is mayor including a rumored offer to Mary-Jane Foster, again rumored.
BPT REBEL, Bill Finch will need someone to GIVE him a job once he is not mayor because he has no job skills except being mayor.
Ron, he has no job skills as mayor except bullshit artist.
There is no truth to the rumor concerning MJF and Fabrizi.
Here’s the juicy stuff:
Both Dan Malloy and David Walker are well-regarded on CNBC and are running for elected office in Connecticut. Although Malloy’s spot is certain, Walker’s position is unsure but enhanced by his media possibilities and his bellwether topic, which is national in scope.
In addition, the clever minds at OIB might make a stab for statewide attention of its own, stemming from its pivotal position in Bridgeport. I hope you’re ready for the spotlight because you’re in the right place and the right time is coming up.
Local Eyes, I decide to look up some ratings for CNBC.
According to the latest Nielsen Research data, in November CNBC’s core 25-54 demographic saw its fourth consecutive month of declines, and dropped to just 31,000–a declined of over 40% from a year earlier, and the lowest since February 1993: a fresh 20-year low.
So David Walker is well-regarded on CNBC will have meaning.
Dan Malloy and David Walker score even better on MSNBC, where their popularity remains strong.
Ron, your personal ratings are impressive and still climbing.
Local Eyes, this is from POLITICO.
MSNBC suffered harder loses in 2013–in terms of both viewership and revenue–than either of its competitors at Fox News and CNN, according to Nielsen data featured in a new Pew Research report. Prime-time viewership declined by a staggering 24 percent (nearly twice the loss sustained by CNN and four times that sustained by Fox News). Daytime viewership fell by 15 percent, even as it rose at both of the other networks.
David Walker will not get elected by voters watching TV.