It was a good story line, but Chris Christie wasn’t having it. On his fourth trip to Connecticut in six weeks, the New Jersey governor insisted he was here to promote a Republican challenger, not tweak a Democratic incumbent who delights in favorably comparing his state to Christie’s.
2014 campaign
Posted inPolitics
In TV wars, Malloy pivots from attacks to a tiny confession
It’s the commercial many Democrats wanted to see, the one where Gov. Dannel P. Malloy takes a deep breath, looks into a camera and wryly acknowledges what every pollster knows: Half the state doesn’t like him.
Posted inPolitics
Foley struggles on a deep dive into housing policy
Republican Tom Foley underwhelmed an audience of housing advocates Wednesday, admitting unfamiliarity with a broad range of housing policies, programs and terms with less than two weeks left in his second run for governor.
Posted inPolitics
Another surprise in a 5th CD debate, this time on taxes
Republican Mark Greenberg surprised U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-5th District, at their final debate Tuesday by declaring himself open to a higher Social Security tax, despite attacking her in a new TV commercial for taking the same position.
Posted inMoney, Politics
Malloy administration resumes ads promoting economy
The administration of Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is spending $403,963 to air television ads in October promoting Connecticut as a place to do business, putting a positive view of the state on regional TV at the height of the governor’s re-election campaign.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy challenges Foley, then chides reporters
Gov. Dannel P. Malloy challenged Republican Tom Foley and the press Monday over Foley’s refusal to disclose his state tax returns, suggesting that the Greenwich businessman may be hiding income from voters, and saying the press was letting him get away with it.
Posted inPolitics
For a second time, Tom Foley works to close the deal
It’s a simple question that executive search committees ask. The query is meant to test whether the desire to be a chief executive can be crystallized into a single concrete act: OK, let’s say you have the job, what do you do first? It’s a question Tom Foley has no answer for. Second of a two-day series.
Posted inPolitics
Ebola crisis prompts Obama to postpone Bridgeport rally
President Obama abruptly canceled political trips to New Jersey and Connecticut for a fundraiser and a rally Wednesday to instead preside over a White House meeting of cabinet agencies coordinating a response to the Ebola outbreak.
Posted inPolitics
Tom Foley, up close and surprisingly personal
Connecticut can’t quite get a bead on Tom Foley. If voters elect him governor in three weeks, polling says it will be mainly for the fact he is not Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. Deep into his second run, Foley still prompts questions about who he is, why he is running and what, exactly, he would do if elected. In a recent two-hour interview, Foley explored some of those questions. First of a two-day series.
Posted inPolitics
Big guns for Malloy: Clinton on Monday, Obama on Wednesday
With Democrats claiming momentum, Bill Clinton came to Hartford on Monday to keep the ball rolling, telling a partisan crowd that Gov. Dannel P. Malloy deserve re-election, a message President Obama intends to reinforce Wednesday night in Bridgeport at his first campaign rally of 2014.
Posted inPolitics
Super PAC spending on CT governor’s race exceeds $7 million
Another $1.2 million flowed into Connecticut’s deadlocked race for governor over the past 48 hours as two super PACs allied with the Democratic and Republican governors’ associations fought for superiority in a war of negative advertising. Outside politicians are joining the flow of dollars into the state, with visits next week from President Obama, Bill Clinton and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy and Foley punch away, whatever the topic
Whatever the question, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Republican Tom Foley pummeled each other Thursday in a tense debate broadcast on radio and television. Invitations to tell voters about their core values, moral philosophy and personal struggles with disability prompted only brief detours, then quick pivots to practiced talking points.
Posted inPolitics
A new twist: Foley embraces tie, denies ever holding lead
How’s this for bipartisanship: Republican Tom Foley and Democrats supporting Gov. Dannel P. Malloy agree that Quinnipiac University’s poll declaring the race a tie is accurate — and that last month’s survey giving Foley a six-point lead was faulty. What’s the catch? Read on.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy closes, ties Foley in Quinnipiac poll
Connecticut’s super-heated race for governor has closed again to a 43 percent to 43 percent tie between Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Republican Tom Foley, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday. Petitioning candidate Joe Visconti was at nine percent.
Posted inPolitics
Malloy highlights sharp crime drop in Connecticut
Engaged in a difficult re-election fight, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy put extra effort Monday in drawing attention to the release of crime statistics that showed reported crime at a 40-year low in 2013, dropping faster in Connecticut than nationally.