Susan Bysiewicz has thrown in with Ned Lamont as his running mate for governor. Now what? It leaves Mayor Joe Ganim as the likely last option to avoid an August Democratic primary heading into the state convention this weekend. What will Ganim do? Depends on Lamont’s outreach to Ganim. Both of them have a balancing act in the short (primary) and longer term (general election) that requires key turnout in cities against the Republican nominee who comes out of the primary.
In the short term it’s as simple as this: if Ganim manages to get on the ballot via either 15 percent delegate support at the convention or petitioning on through signatures, what are his prospects for August? He’ll be outspent 10 to 1 against the self-funding Greenwich millionaire who has backing him a majority of the Democratic apparatus that churns out a vote. The Ganim campaign model relied on a larger field of Lamont and Bysiewicz splitting up the establishment vote with Ganim appealing to a heavily urban audience. SuBy threw a grenade into that prospect. So Ganim’s looking at a head-to-head maelstrom against Lamont. What’s the point? Especially with Ganim looking down the road to 2019 and his mayoral reelection. Does he want to risk a ballot embarrassment heading into his mayoral reelection?
Ganim is a pragmatist, but he’s also a negotiator. Fundamentally, if he decides he must cut a deal with Lamont, does he have more leverage having qualified for the ballot?
Lamont’s outreach to Ganim is key.
Within the next few days someone on behalf of Lamont, if not himself, will likely reach out to Ganim and/or Democratic Town Chair Mario Testa. “We want you on board to unite the party. How do we get there?”
There’s no real statewide position they can pitch that’s a fit for Ganim, be it attorney general, treasurer or another constitutional office. A commissionership? Eh. That won’t blow Joe’s hair back, whatever he has left. So likely, this will come down to what Lamont, if elected, promises to do for Bridgeport, be it strong support for a commercial casino, money for a new Congress Street bridge, full reimbursement to the city on tax exempt properties, etc.
Whatever the conversation, Lamont’s headed for a beastly general election that requires energized urban voters. Without it, the next governor–barring something kooky happening–will be a Republican. He cannot afford to ignore Ganim. The Lamont-SuBy ticket is not exactly urban energizing.
A window exists over the next few days for Lamont to reach out to Ganim. If he ignores Ganim, or mails in a unity message to him, Joe will likely head to the convention to be a pain in the ass. If they work something out that includes a high-profile speaking role for Ganim at the convention, then he’s in position to be cast into the kingmaker’s role rather than dropping a turd in the party punch bowl.
This is not a one-way street. It behooves both of them to be pragmatic because neither has a slam dunk prospect for this year (governor) or next year (mayor).
Why piss-off Ned? bring him over to Mario’s for a slice!
If your theory is right, you can take out the part about Joey G. negotiating for his next term as Mayor. i.e. “What will Lamont do for Bpt.” He knows what he wants, has from day one; I agree that a commissionership is not sexy enough to satisfy his political appetite, but if Lamont pulls it off, he can make Joey’s dream come true. Whatever that is!
Offer him Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. How can he ducked that up???
But let’s not forget the wild card Bill Finch. What does he want?
He’s been with Lamont before. And Joe just barely beat him the last time.
If I read between the lines correctly Joe Ganim is angling to be a broker of delegates at the convention: “I’ll throw my votes behind you, what are you going to do for me?” Not “What are you going to do for the people of the city of Bridgeport?” After all, we’re talking about Joe Ganim, a self serving little bastard if there ever was. That’s what it is all about, “What can you do for me?”
Lamont and Byzabitch both just said they want tolls and no more casinos. How anybody in the park city could support either of these must have onset dementia.
This would also apply to anyone in the state.
Ganim wants his law licence back pure and simple
I didn’t think of that Andy……you’re still sharp!
Or Ned sees Ganim is unpopular in Bridgeport so he does nothing and crushes Joe in the primary leaving him battered, bruised and getting nothing for Bridgeport; making him even more beatable in 2019.
Watch out for his footwork (and followers) who have invested in the candidate? Where will they move him to? Time will tell.
JML, I concede Joey has footwork, but followers?
I think Joe could be swayed with cash,new suits & cases of wine..
Here’s what Joe Ganim should do and say, in the spirit of party unity I am withdrawing from the Democrat race for governor and I’m supporting Ned Lamont in his effort as governor of improving the funding for education and for assisting urban cities like Bridgeport. Joe would look good but he’s not going to do this but he should.
If Joe wasn’t a convicted felon, guilty of robbing from the very people who trusted him, he could ask for a position in Ned’s administration,but who in their right mind would offer him anything at this point?.