Boston Globe: Wave May Spare New England Democrats.
The Boston Globe ran a long Saturday piece analyzing the dire state of the Republican party in most of New England as the GOP recovers from the Bush year in other parts of the nation. New Hampshire, with both House seats in play. An open seat in Massachusetts looks competitive. There’s another in Rhode Island that could be but isn’t yet.
The article mentions that the analyst Stuart Rothenberg has noted in his regular reports that the two seats in western Connecticut could be in play as the election gets closer. As of now, however, Connecticut and most of the rest of the region looks static in a year of rumblings.
Article includes an explanation from recent Rob Simmons campaign official Jim Barnett of Republican inability to take advantage of opportunities in this unhappy year for Democrats. He says, “A lot of our up-and-coming stars have been wiped out over the course of the last several election cycles.’’
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“As of now, however, Connecticut and most of the rest of the region looks static in a year of rumblings.”
According to Kenny Langley, this is all Tom Foley’s fault, what a dope!
The bottom line is Connecticut as well as pretty much all of New England leans left and votes Democratic.
The quote from Jim Barnett doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Who would those be, someone like the last, great Republican State Senator from the 3rd district who got wiped out in 1996?
Ed (or whoever you really are),
You really don’t know how to do anything but attack people do you? Sad, very sad.
Kenny, if you don’t like being criticized then stop doing the things that open you up for criticism, it’s as simple as that.
“A lot of our up-and-coming stars have been wiped out over the course of the last several election cycles.’’ – Justin Bernier comes to mind, but I’m drawing a blank at the others. Justin just didn’t really have the resources or backing to take it to Chris Murphy, though. Unfortunate as it was for Justin, Caligiuri is doing a better job of building a strong campaign. Hopefully Bernier sticks around and seasons himself. It sucks when an eager young person sees a setback and doesn’t take the time to re-focus themselves for a few years and come back stronger than before.
Tom, I wouldn’t consider Justin Bernier to be a “up-and-coming star” in the context that Jim Barnett is talking about here.
Bernier has never run for or been elected to anything so it’s hard to be “wiped out” if one was never in it to begin with.
I don’t know why Bernier didn’t try to run for State Rep. or a municipal office in Plainville first before jumping right in to a campaign for Federal office. I know there are cases in other parts of the country where a nobody from nowhere got elected to Congress but when was the last time it happened in Connecticut?
Bruce Morrisson (1982) was probably the last. Others elected to Congress without holding another office include Bob Steele (1970) and his successor in Congress, a Norwich lawyer named Chris Dodd (1974). Yes, Steele and Dodd has famous fathers (though that may have hurt more than helped Dodd), but neither had a political track record of their own.
All three of those were products of the party lever days where they were swept into office on the coattails of Meskill, Grasso and O’Neill respectively.
Interesting races though Ken nonetheless as Steele and Dodd’s contests were both open seats and their opponents were State Senators (Pickett & Hellier respectively). Morrison knocked off an incumbent (Larry DeNardis) but let’s face it, the Republicans only won that seat in 1980 on the Reagan coattails in a district that is seldom if ever held by a Republican.
There are no such thing as “coattails” in Connecticut since the removal of the party levers starting in 1988.
Thank you for the information Ken.
Caliguiri, Foley, Peckinpaugh, LG Foley, Jack Orchulli and McMahon.
Those are the GOP’s best shotsin that order IMHO. Doesn’t mean Peckinpaugh and LG Foley will win their primaries.
I don’t get the impression Chris Murphy has any real traction in the Hills. Lembo’s qualifiactions are weak as are Wymans and Glassmans. LaMont and Malloy can’t get past their past and Dickie V is slowly melting. Courtney is the guy that was less offensive than the other guy.
All those seats are winnanle by a well run State GOP push except Blumenthal who needs to contribute to his descent.
Richard, what about DeBicella? That race is on the top of any list.
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