DeStefano Launches First Gubernatorial Ad Says "We Can Do Better"

[Larkspur]

http://www.destefanoforct.com/node/630

New Haven-With a theme of "We Can Do Better" and a focus on creating jobs and economic opportunity, while improving the lives of Connecticut families, the DeStefano for Governor campaign announced today it was launching the first ad of the gubernatorial campaign.
The ad was sent to Connecticut stations Friday night within hours of Jodi Rell announcing her candidacy for governor.

"We created this ad to send an important signal that we are going to run an aggressive, substantive positive campaign to build a better Connecticut for hardworking families. There is no reason why Connecticut should be last in job growth, why property taxes and college tuition should be skyrocketing, and why we must endure endless traffic gridlock that hurts families and costs us jobs. We can do better," said DeStefano.

The thirty-second ad will begin airing on Tuesday during news broadcasts on WTNH, NBC, Fox 61, WFSB, and on cable News 12 in Fairfield County, and on the DeStefano website at www.DestefanoForCT.com. Said Shonu Gandhi, campaign spokesperson, "This is the first of several early campaign ads we will run at a low-level on broadcast, or on our website to talk about building a better Connecticut. We're going to give Connecticut families a real choice about who can build a better Connecticut for them."

The ad introduces DeStefano to voters as the son of a police officer, husband and father of two, who as New Haven Mayor has led the city's revitalization by significantly cutting crime, improving the city's schools, and creating jobs.
<SNIP>

So the 2006 battle begins.

[bigwillq]

1. He has done wonders for N.H.

But I can't stand him and don't think I will vote for him.
He's a pompous ass.

[Larkspur]

2. So who do you plan to support? Malloy?

[bigwillq]

3. In the primary,

I will probably support Malloy.
I may *gasp* vote for Rell. She signed the civil union law and that might just be my present to her.
On appearances alone, I feel she has done a decent job. I really haven't looked into everything in depth. I know I should before I make a decision.

[NewJeffCT]

4. didn't she sign civil unions

on condition that it be made clear that marriage is between a man & a woman?

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

8. Yes she did.

And many gay activists are not happy about that. But, as a strictly disinterested party, I feel that the civil unions bill was a step in the right direction. And it sort of gets you thinking about the role of govt in the marriage business. Should all unions be civil with the option of the churches blessing marriages according to their own particular beliefs? In other words, any couple - hetero or homo - could only enter into a civil union with the state. It would require reworking federal laws, etc. to give tax benefits to all parties in a civil union to make this feasible

And, I too will probably vote for her. As much as it pains me to pull the Repub lever, it does sometimes make sense at the local level. I just don't think that Malloy or DeStefano have what it takes. DeStefano already funbled with the ID cards for illegal aliens issue. And his campaign finance report to the state was missing contributor's employment info which caused a furor. Serves him right for not hiring me to do it !

[Larkspur]

9. Why don't you NOT vote in 2006?

If it pains you to pull the Republ lever in the Gov's slot, don't pull it. Either don't vote or write someone else in.

I'm not voting for Lieberman in 2006. I'm either going to write someone in, vote thrid party(progressive) or leave that slot unchecked. But I would never vote for the Repuke candidate for senator, if they have one, in 2006. Course, many Repukes like Lieberman, so they may not get a candidate to challenge him.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

10. I agree with you with respect to Lieberman

and may do a write-in. But right now I think Rell is doing a good job. A year from now, I may not feel that way.

[Larkspur]

12. Rell isn't a bad person but she's not a good leader

She's really a follower, so her leadership style is basically reacting to the latest PR hotspot -- NDLC, the trucking company licenses, etc.. This style of leadership lacks a forward vision that anticipates and seeks to resolve larger problems in the future that will arise based upon the myriad of smaller problems we have today.

Also her Republican ideology favors the status quo. It prevents her from having a vision that can help improve this state. She won't want to raise taxes to help pay for services that our state needs to solve some of these problems and remove taxes on other areas that inhibit businesses from coming or staying in CT.

I like DeStefano's vision much better than Rell's status quo. I look forward to the campaign and I'm glad that DeStefano is going to be aggressive but keep the campaign based upon the issues and visions of CT's future. That's what campaigns should do.

[NewJeffCT]

11. They'll come up with a token opponent for Lieberman

Maybe some businessman from Fairfield Cty or the Republican mayor of some city in the state.

[bigwillq]

13. Yes I believe so.

I don't care though. I think civil unions is a good first step.
I'm not really for marriage no matter what gender is involved.
But by signing a civil union law into law, I feel it's a step forward.

The civil rights movement wasn't solved in a day, I don't think the gay rights movement will be either but this is a step to follow.

[Larkspur]

6. My former Dem Town Comm chairperson would say that you are accurately

describing Kevin Sullivan. She won't vote for Sullivan, but she doesn't know much about DeStefano to make a comment on him at this time.

Malloy came to our Dem Town Comm meeting earlier this year. I wasn't impressed with his use of George W. Bush lingo. He kept referring to how he would spend his political capital and he only expected to be in the Governor's office for 8 years. I don't mind the 2 term limit, but the "spending all his political capital" to get what he wants done sounded too Republican for me.

[NewJeffCT]

5. we certainly can do better

10 years of Republicans at the top has left us last in job growth. We really need to think big in this state in regards to relieving traffic between New Haven & the NY Border as well... and thinking big is not just adding a few more trains for Metro North.

[Larkspur]

7. Here's the direct link to the web page with DeStefano's TV ad

http://www.destefanoforct.com/ad

It's pretty good for an intro piece.

[wakfs]

14. But does he or any Dem have a real chance?

Any Democrat in CT NOT named Blumenthal has very little chance of unseating Rell. In my opinion.

[Larkspur]

15. If a Dem doesn't try, then yes no Dem will defeat Rell

DeStefano is a longshot, but a lot depends upon his strategy versus Rell's and of course there are intangibles that neither can control. Now that Blumenthal has bowed out, DeStefano can work to increase support for his campaign among those who were waiting for Dick to make a decision. DeStefano was smart to begin his campaign early and not wait for Blumenthal to make a decision on whether to run for the governor's office or not. Blumenthal hurt the Dems in 2002 with his long wait to make a decision.

I do think that DeStefano has the right game plan. Will it be good enough to defeat Rell? I can't say at this point. Most people are not paying attention to the Gov's race in 2006. We have municiple elections in 2 weeks, and many people are depressed by the stink from Washington DC. My town council candidates say that they are seeing a lot of political apathy right now.

The other factor to weigh in is will DeStefano and Malloy battle each other in a primary war? If so, then the winner most likely will be bruised badly and will face a Rell who has lots of cash on hand to use against the Dem.

DeStefano is doing a very good job of winning quality endorsements, endorsements that will make it harder for Malloy to raise funds and support in a primary. By getting these endorsements, DeStefano may be able to force Malloy out of a primary battle or weaken Malloy so much that Malloy won't have much support entering a primary election and DeStefano can save his cash for battling Rell.

[NewJeffCT]

16. Several Dems *could* beat Rell

Chris Dodd & Joe Lieberman to name two. However, both will be re-elected forever to the Senate if they so choose and would have a tough battle with Rell for governor if they decided on that. Look what happened to the popular Barbara Kennelly when she ran against Rowland? She had an easy seat in the House, so wasn't used to the tough campaign...

My choice would be Jim Calhoun, though. I know he's a liberal Dem, but I don't know how interested in politics he'd be.

Larson or DeLauro could give Rell a battle as well.

[Larkspur]

17. Calhoun was hosting house parties for John Rowland in 2002

If he's a liberal Dem, he certainly didn't show it in 2002.

I think DeStefano has the stamina to take on a grueling campaign against Rell. It's just a matter of how much money he can raise to push Malloy out of a primary battle and to battle Rell on even terms or nearly even terms.

[NewJeffCT]

18. there goes my image of Calhoun then...

A few years back, somebody told me he was one of those Boston Irish Catholic liberals in the mold of Kennedy. Guess they were wrong.

[Larkspur]

19. I couldn't believe it either. I think it was the Hartford Courant

that reported it. I was helping the Curry-Courtney campaigns in my town in 2002, my first stint in active politics, when I read that story.

My father's family were Irish Catholic Democrats. When a friend of our family, who was also an Irish Catholic Democrat became wealthy, he turned Republican. Maybe Calhoun's money from endorsements as well as his high annual salary turned him Repuke. Or maybe he's Unaffiliated and will swing to whichever way the political winds blow.