Susan Bysiewicz’s campaign is losing its top fundraiser, Josh Handelman, who has helped the former secretary of the state rake in more than $1 million since announcing her U.S. Senate bid in January. Campaign manager Jonathan Ducote said that Handelman “decided to seek other opportunities,” but is leaving the campaign with a strong foundation in […]
2012 Election
Posted inMoney, Politics
Shays doesn’t have a fundraising game plan
Apparently ex-Rep. Chris Shays hasn’t thought through all the nitty-gritty details of his U.S. Senate bid, particularly if he ends up facing Republican Linda McMahon in a GOP primary. Here’s what Shays had to say when asked by a Politico reporter about how he could overcome McMahon’s deep pockets if they face off for the […]
Posted inUncategorized
Donovan takes another shot at a kickoff
As the labor concession deal teetered back in June, House Speaker Christopher Donovan canceled the formal announcement of his candidacy for the Democratic nomination in the 5th Congressional District, though he continued campaigning and raising money. Now, with Labor Day gone (and the power back on in the district) Donovan is taking another crack at […]
Posted inUncategorized
If you are wondering what an “inevitability campaign” looks like
William Tong says on our page today that Chris Murphy is running an “inevitability campaign,” portraying himself as the clear choice in a three-way race with Tong and Susan Bysiewicz for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate. The Murphy campaign was quick to reinforce that today. Not only did it announce an endorsement by the […]
Posted inMoney, Politics
A sleepless 2012 for Murphy, and not just over Senate race
Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5th District, probably won’t get a lot of sleep in 2012, but it won’t all be because of his U.S. Senate campaign. His wife Cathy is pregnant, due with their second child in December. As if the fundraising demands, campaign crush and electoral pressure weren’t enough. Still, Murphy said the family’s anticipated […]
Posted inMoney, Politics
Shays makes it official; Dems launch first salvo
Chris Shays made official what has been rumored and already reported for months: he will officially run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Joseph Lieberman. A Greenwich paper reported that Shays, the former GOP congressman from Connecticut’s 4th District, and his wife Betsi are back on the voter rolls in Bridgeport, […]
Posted inNews
Shays: His calendar will be clear, starting next month
It seems to be a race to see who will declare first as a candidate for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate, Linda McMahon or Chris Shays. McMahon is heading toward a mid-September rollout, one adviser said today. As for Shays, he remains coy, at least on the record, about his plans, but he noted […]
Posted inMoney, Politics
Shays plans to jump into U.S. Senate race
Chris Shays will be jumping into Connecticut’s U.S. Senate contest, a source close to the former congressman confirmed on Wednesday. He plans to make his entry into the race official before the end of the month, this person said. Shays could face a tough contest, trying to make a comeback in Connecticut four years after […]
Posted inMoney, Politics
Bysiewicz gets EMILY’s List nod
U.S. Senate hopeful Susan Bysiewicz got a political lift today from EMILY’s List, a national fundraising group that recruits and supports Democratic pro-choice female candidates. EMILY’s List put Bysiewicz, Connecticut’s former secretary of the state, “on the list.” That’s not a full-fledged endorsement but it will almost certainly help draw Democratic donors to her campaign. […]
Posted inNews
Vernon mayor to explore run for GOP senate nomination
Jason McCoy, the Republican mayor of Vernon, announced today he will pass up a re-election try this fall to focus on an exploratory campaign for U.S. Senate in 2012. McCoy is a two-term mayor of Vernon, an east-of-the-river suburb of Hartford. On the Democratic side, candidates are jumping into the race for the seat left […]
Posted inNews
Michele Bachmann’s family ties to deep blue Connecticut
Tea Party heroine and GOP presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann seems allergic to reporters from certain newspapers, particularly the New York Times. But a son and brother, physicians with ties to UConn and Yale, have no trouble talking to the Gray Lady on the candidate’s behalf. Her son, Dr. Lucas Bachmann, talked to the Times for […]
Posted inPolitics
Esty raises over $250,000 in the second quarter
Democratic candidate for the 5th District Elizabeth Esty announced Friday morning that she raised over $250,000 in the second quarter, raising a total of $423,653 in four months. Esty’s finance director, Brian Weeks, said the sum comes from 700 contributions from individuals. “It is exciting to see momentum building for our campaign,” Esty said in […]
Posted inMoney, Politics
Bysiewicz raises almost $427,000 for Senate bid
U.S. Senate hopeful Susan Bysiewicz raised $426,990 during the 2nd quarter of 2011, according to an email statement from her campaign today. That brings her total so far this year to a little more than $900,000. A campaign spokesman said she had about $720,000 in the bank at the end of June, the close of […]
Posted inPolitics
Roberti raises over $300,000 in the second quarter
Kent Democrat and 5th Congressional District candidate Dan Roberti announced Friday that he raised over $300,000 in the second quarter, bringing his fundraising total to more than $555,000. He reported raising $255,900 after the first quarter in just 17 days of fundraising. “Our fundraising efforts over the past four months have allowed us to invest […]
Posted inPolitics
Wilson-Foley raises $200,000 in 2nd quarter
Lisa Wilson-Foley, a Republican candidate for Connecticut’s 5th congressional district, raised about $200,000 in the 2nd quarter of 2011. Her campaign didn’t say how much cash she had in the bank. “With our state and country reaching almost 10% unemployment, and with our government at a stalemate in this budget crisis, I am seeing voters […]