DeStefano Raises Nearly $2 Million For 2006 Campaign

[Freddie Stubbs]

POSTED: 5:25 am EDT April 8, 2005

HARTFORD, Conn. -- New Haven Mayor John DeStefano has raised nearly $1.8 million for his 2006 gubernatorial campaign, about $100,000 more than fellow Democrat Bill Curry collected for his 2002 bid for the governor's office.

Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, another Democrat seeking the state's top elected job, is closing in on Curry's mark, reporting $1.5 million in her campaign coffers.

With the nominating convention more than a year away, DeStefano and Bysiewicz are distancing themselves from the rest of the field.

The DeStefano campaign raised $403,565 for the first quarter of 2005, compared with $222,492 for Bysiewicz. DeStefano has $1.43 million cash on hand, compared with $1.07 million for Bysiewicz.

more: http://www.nbc30.com/politics/4359203/detail.html

[NewJeffCT]

1. that's impressive

However, can any of them compete against Jodi Rell at this stage?

[Larkspur]

2. The real question is "Will Jodi Rell run for Gov in 2006?"

She won't officially say until after the budget battles on the hill, but she may not want to run because of the mess Rowland made that she inherited. There will be a lot of tough and unpopular choices coming up. Does she really want to do the hard work of Gov or just bask in a post-Rowland popularity glow?

[NewJeffCT]

3. I would be shocked if Rell did not run

the media is bending over backwards for her so far - nary a mention of her hiring 3 cronies to cushy state jobs despite Rell herself imposing a hiring freeze... and, I believe she also proposed eliminating the estate tax, to the tune of the state losing $180 million - even though we have a $1 billion+ deficit.

[ProgressiveConn]

4. There is no bench.

She has to run or its a 70% Dem blowout.

[NewJeffCT]

5. Johnson or Shays could make it close

especially Shays, who was more critical of Rowland than many state Democrats. I still have yet to hear Blumenthal comment on Rowland.

[ProgressiveConn]

6. Shays has enough problems holding off Dianne Farrell.

Johnson I don't think could win a state wide election and honestly I don't think she is really that strong in her home district. We just did an awful job in 2004.

[NewJeffCT]

7. we've been doing an awful job against Johnson for a while then

Including when she was paired up against Jim Maloney. That was our best opportunity.

[ProgressiveConn]

8. Gerratana replaced Marconi like a month before the election.

Johnson spent 1.2 million. Gerrantana/Marconi spent 127k. The 59/38 split isnt that surprising here at all. Johnson wins because Democratic voting New Britain sees her as a hometown girl and votes for her instead. Run a good candidate, preferably with a good polish last and we can take her. =)

Johnson was able to successfully use the "moderate" card in 2002 plus she outspent maloney by over a million too. If we put up a strong candidate she can be tied to the extremist policies of Bush without "going negative" on her.

Problem is finding a good candidate to run against her. =)

[NewJeffCT]

9. we have the same problem with Simmons in my district

Sullivan would have made a good Congressman, I think, but his only political experience was as a town councilman in Norwich. Not exactly high profile. We need either Jim Calhoun to run, or else a popular mayor of a bigger 2nd district town (do Norwich, New London, Manchester or Enfield have Democrats at the helm?) The problem is that the district is so spread out and sparsely populated that there is not one big town/city like Johnson's district with Waterbury & New Britain (is Danbury her district, too?)

Simmons got a lot of ads from the NRA the last few days of the campaign - I remember driving home one night from work and I heard a Simmons ad, then an NRA for Simmons ad on the radio, back to back. So, not only did he outspend Sullivan 4 or 5 to 1, he had the NRA at his side, too.

[ProgressiveConn]

10. Yeah NRA is rough. And it will always be a problem here.

I know quite a few progressives who are single issue voters and refuse to vote Democratic because of the perception of Democrats as anti-gun.

Yeah I hear ya on the lack of cities but it could work out very well with attacks on the Republican social security debacle. Rural isn't always a bad thing for Democrats. Expecially in Connecticut. The people up in the quiet corner will not enjoy the attempt to destroy social security at all. I'm sure those outraged by it will surely outnumber those down in lyme/old lyme etc who are part of the investment class and are supporting it.

And Danbury is indeed part of Johnsons district. Though I had to look to see if it was in Shays or hers. =)

[Larkspur]

11. How many Dem Town Committees have endorsed DeStefano?

My Dem Town Committee, Killingly, unanimously endorsed Bysiewicz last month.

[Liberalgirl788]

12. Bysiewicz or Blumenthal would be great!

I think Blumenthal would easily win and I don't care who wins as long as it's a Democrat.

[NewJeffCT]

13. welcome to DU

Right now, I think anybody that runs will have a really tough time beating Jodi Rell. I've never seen a honeymoon like hers. The ones that could beat her are Dodd & Lieberman.

[newyawker99]

14. Hi Liberalgirl788!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: