Murphy Minimizes, Bysiewicz Emphasizes Differences on Post-Convention “Face the State” Appearances.

This is not where Democratic U.S. Senate candidate U.S. Representative Christopher Murphy expected to be after the state’s May 12th Democratic nominating convention. Murphy’s top supporters hoped they could drive rival former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz out of the race last summer. This spring, Team Murphy wanted to keep her below the 15% primary threshold at the state convention, demoralizing her supporters and forcing her to spend time and money on petitioning for a spot on the August primary ballot. Bysiewicz sailed past the 15% benchmark and heads to a primary among party voters who supported her in three statewide elections.

Appearing on a special live edition of WFSB’s “Face the State” Sunday morning, Murphy declared there are “not a lot of big differences between” him and Bysiewicz. The three term congressman echoed some of Bysiewicz’s most potent themes by claiming he has been “fighting to hold Wall Street accountable for what they did to our economy.” He also said he has been fighting to end wars. This is not the best ground for Murphy to wage a battle against Bysiewicz. He is no stranger to shaking down Wall Street dough for his campaigns, something Bysiewicz delights in highlighting. It could prove a potent theme among left-leaning Democratic primary voters if Bysiewicz can raise the money it takes to reach them.

Murphy’s claim to have fought to end wars could provoke more withering assaults from Bysiewicz. He was elected in 2006 on an anti-war platform and the conflict continued for years. Murphy has also supported the closing of Guantanamo Bay detention camp but it is still open nearly six years after he was first elected to Congress. The hoarse Bysiewicz told WFSB host Dennis House Sunday that Murphy “hasn’t passed one bill” during his tenure in Washington. If Bysiewicz can get that message to Democrats–and prove it–she will be in with a chance to upset the conventional wisdom that the primary is merely a formality for Murphy to advance to the general election.

Bysiewicz reminded observers that she abandoned whatever analytical powers she once possessed in her lurch to the left of Murphy. She says she’s “the only candidate with a plan to create a million renewable energy jobs.” After Solyndra and other green energy taxpayer-funded debacles, Bysiewicz ought to stay away from crony capitalism if she’s to maintain her newfound populist persona.