The Loose Lips Are Free

Republican Senate hopeful Linda McMahon’s campaign website declares, “Linda has committed not to accept PAC money or special interest money.” She might want to extend that to paying lobbyists for “communications consulting” and “political strategy” for advice.

McMahon’s amended 3rd quarter campaign finance report shows $83,077.59 in 6 payments between July 16th and September 30th last year to Hartford lobbying firm Sullivan and LeShane. McMahon has often been accompanied on the campaign trail by Patrick Sullivan, who’s known in lobbying and political circles as an unfiltered talker. To the delight of many Democrats, Sullivan’s been spilling the expensive beans, for example, about the McMahon campaign’s dealings with mailing list vendors and the schedule for focus groups.

Sullivan’s warning to Democrats of what vendors to avoid after an early wave of McMahon mailings whetted their partisan appetite for more. They haven’t been disappointed.

Focus groups require some discretion, so most campaigns try to keep them a secret. That was likely the intent of the pros in the McMahon campaign. Democrats chuckle that they probably have better intelligence on the McMahon campaign than her Republican opponent, former CIA agent Rob Simmons. All they have to do is hang around Hartford and listen. How lucky can you get?

The Simmons campaign might feel better not knowing anything about this week’s focus groups. But what’s the point in giving anything away to Blumenthal supporters?