Otherwise Engaged.

Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Ned Lamont backed out of today’s debate among sponsored by the University of Connecticut School of Law and the Connecticut Daily Newspapers Association.  Lamont had agreed to attend the event, but backed out “due to a scheduling conflict.”  He is looking forward to seeing his fellow Democrats at a forum in Washington later this week.  That one is unlikely to get as much attention as today’s.

Lamont brings some strengths to the race for governor.  He’s well-known from his 2006 campaign for the U.S. Senate.  The Greenwich scion is not reluctant to fund his effort, and he’s spent time studying state government and its discontents.  He’s not, however, a great debater, though his campaign says he’s participated in 15 forums and debates in this campaign.  Politicians get themselves in a state over these events.  At this stage of the campaign, they serve as a useful exercise for candidates more than they enlighten audiences.  What’s likely to come out of today’s event at the law school is that Ned Lamont gave it a sudden miss.