Winner of the Week: Dan Malloy

Required to run on fumes by the misbegotten public campaign financing he supports, Stamford Democrat Dan Malloy has nevertheless cut rival Ned Lamont’s January lead from 16 points to 10 in Thursday’s Quinnipiac poll.  Malloy trumped Lamont at Friday’s first broadcast debate of Democratic candidates for governor by, well, showing up on time. Malloy also turned in a more dynamic performance than Lamont during WVIT’s 60 minute program.

Headwinds may soon test Malloy as he nears the $250,000 threshold in small donations required to receive $1.5 million in public funds.  The campaign scheme could vanish with a court decision matched by the legislature’s reluctance to make changes in the program.  That will set off a scramble for contributions from donors with the party nominating conventions drawing near.

Nevertheless, Malloy continues to show the grit that got him the party endorsement 4 years ago, only to lose it to New Haven mayor John DeSefano in a knife-edge primary.