Mayor secures local support

[Nutmegger]

The group of delegates New Haven's Democratic Party selected at its meeting last night to vote on the party's endorsement in the gubernatorial primary race are unanimously in support of Mayor John DeStefano Jr.'s bid for governor.

The delegates will also vote on the party's endorsement in the primary race for U.S. senator, but no tally has been made of whether the delegates support challenger Ned Lamont or incumbent Joe Lieberman. Lamont's campaign manager, Tom Swan, said he was confident that Lamont will receive a fair number of votes from the New Haven delegation, but Susie Voigt, the chair of the town party, said she thought most of the delegates would be in support of Lieberman, who has had ties to the New Haven area for more than two decades.

"It is good to be together, and it is good to speak with a strong voice," DeStefano said after the 69-person delegation was announced.

Lamont's campaign manager Swan said that while the Lamont campaign recognizes Lieberman's strong ties to the New Haven area, conversations with some of the delegates convinced him that Lamont's Senate bid "will be treated fairly." Although Swan said he doubts Lamont will receive the party's endorsement, he said the Greenwich businessman challenging Lieberman will likely receive the votes of 15 percent of the delegates, which would earn him a place on the August ballot.

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