When Candidates Outnumber the Press.

A scrum of candidates descended on the capitol press corp this afternoon after Governor M. Jodi Rell delivered her obligatory budget address.  There was a mighty competition among hopefuls and flacks to get some time with reporters, who needed to talk to the people who have some authority over the dire state of Connecticut’s finances.

Nevertheless, gubernatorial hopefuls Dan Malloy, Tom Foley, Lawrence DeNardis, Michael Fedele, Mark Boughton, Jim Amann, Ned Lamont, and his good friend Mary Glassman competed for the kind attentions of busy reporters.  Members of the press were not molested by former congressman Christopher Shays who was on a social visit to the capitol to see old friends.  Shays said earlier he’d have no comment on Rell’s address.  How Maryland resident Shays, who’s thinking of running for governor–of Connecticut–would tackle the state’s budget disaster remains a mystery, though we are certain he ponders it as he looks out on the Chesapeake Bay from his piece of heaven.

Some candidates appeared comfortable answering questions, others seemed a trifle out of place.  No word on any candidate producing an alternative budget that strikes a few notes of reality.  The cliches were ricocheting off the marble pillars of the second floor.