Second Congressional district primary--August 10th

[monarch]

I am strongly supporting Shaun McNally to beat Rob Simmons. As most of you know, this has been rated as one of the top contested seats this year and I am convinced that Shaun is the guy to take it. If there was ever a perfect DU candidate, I think Shaun is the one. He is the only candidate with whom I agree on every single issue but who has such real convictions that, if we disagreed,I would reexamine my own.
Shaun is taking no special interest money and has been relying totally on houseparties and other grassroots stuff. My partner and I held two houseparties and Shaun was a real hit. Unfortunately, we seem to know too many republicans but he did get their votes.
Please check out Shaun's website, http://www.votemcnally.com/, or PM me if you want my personal thoughts.

I really like this guy and I think you will too.

[NewJeffCT]

1. A few questions...

I looked at his website & Jim Sullivan's and agree that McNally has a much more impressive resume.

My question is why then is the Democratic establishment is backing Sullivan then? Wasn't Sullivan the guy Nancy Pelosi came in to town to promote?

(just moved into the 2nd district, so I need to learn more about both candidates)

[monarch]

2. I'm not really sure.

I don't have any connection to the campaign other than the house parties, which were the work of my much more gregarious partner, so I have no inside information.

My guess is that the establishment, sensing the strong possibility of victory, wanted to avoid the kind of free-for-alls that we've had here in the past, and that John Larson and Rosa DeLauro jumped the gun in giving an early endorsement to Sullivan. Those endorsements helped sew up the convention and led to the rest of the establishment falling in line--hence the Pelosi fundraiser. I also think that Shaun is not an establishment kind of guy and that's part of the reason I like him. On the other hand, I have heard that since Shaun has run a much more energetic campaign than Sullivan, the establishment will not be unhappy if he wins the primary.

I'll try to check into this some more and post anything I come up with. Thanks for checking in.

[groton]

3. why i think the party suports Sullivan

Mcnally is more Pro Busness
he worked as a Consulent not that long ago for a state Busness group.

Sullivan is more Pro Worker.
and also is a bright young rising star

but i realy dont care who wins since ether way its Win win for South Eastern CT.

both are Norwich boys witch is better then a Stonginton Rich guy who son is a party boy(i know that becuse i have Friends who i work with who know Simmon's son and has some nice kegers at Simmons house)

[monarch]

4. Where do you get your information?

How is Sullivan more pro worker? He's the one who, in his fund raising, has made himself beholden to businesses such as the famous Tomasso company, and, furthermore, what makes you think that the current Democratic establishment would choose a candidate on the basis of which one is more pro worker.

On another matter, I wish more people would use the spell-check function. I know people have gotten pretty casual about spelling and grammar but this place is starting to look like FReeperville.

[monarch]

9. Michelle Jacklin's explanation of the endorsement

In (the last) election, McNally and Sullivan both waded into the campaign waters - McNally for a month and Sullivan for a while longer - before getting out. Sullivan was persuaded to withdraw by, among others, U.S. Rep. John Larson, whom Sullivan once worked for.

The talk is that Larson told Sullivan that if he dropped out and gave Courtney a clean shot at Simmons, Democrats would return the favor and close ranks behind Sullivan this year - providing, of course, that Courtney lost.

Although the Sullivan camp denies that story, there's circumstantial evidence to support it. Traditionally, party leaders withhold their endorsements until after a primary is held and the nomination secured. But this year, top Democrats, from U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd on down, have rallied around Sullivan, the convention-endorsed candidate...

http://www.ctnow.com/news/opinion/columnists/hc-jacklin0808.artaug08,1,7668010.column?coll=hc-columnists-opinion

Sorry if I did this wrong.

On edit--couldn't figure out a way to insert a phrase in the quote--that phrase being "the last" in front of "election" in the first line.

[Happy Eddie]

5. UAW endorses Sullivan

From the New London Day: United Auto Workers (representing unionized workers at Electric Boat) endorses Sullivan.

http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=B3BF5540-CAF4-42E0-A6D8-FC1DE0311C3D

If that link wraps, try this one:

http://snipurl.com/8aiv

[monarch]

6. Did you find that surprising?

That is a given when you are dealing with a party-endorsed candidate. I'm sure that they will happily endorse McNally when the time comes.

[Happy Eddie]

7. Day endorses McNally

The New London Day themselves endorsed Shaun McNally in Tuesday's primary. I think the editorial is worth reading:

http://www.theday.com/eng/web/news/re.aspx?re=F39A421F-C8B1-4841-A348-B9CB4482DDB1

The Day's policy is to require registration on pieces more than 48 hours old. You can probably get to this through tomorrow (Monday).

Monarch, just to clarify, I've been following the campaign with a certain amount of agnosticism. I was posting a news link, not endorsing Jim Sullivan or the UAW. I'm still not sure who I'll vote for. I hope I'll be back with some more opinions later tonight (I'm taking a break from work at the moment) and I hope you will be too :) . You too, Groton and whoever else is in this fine district :) .

:dem:

[monarch]

8. Sorry Eddie

I wasn't meaning to sound hostile. I guess I was carried away by my enthusiasm for Shaun.

I also see that you beat me to the New London Day endorsement. The McNally campaign sent me the news and I posted it before reading this thread.

[NewJeffCT]

10. Is the Day a Republican paper?

I know most newspapers in CT are connected to some sort of Republican source (Tribune companies) - is the Day a Republican paper that is endorsing McNally because Simmons would have an easier time against him?

(I have no idea if McNally or Sullivan would be better against Simmons - however, Sullivan seems to be in much better shape financially)

[Happy Eddie]

11. Not part of a chain

The New London Day is its own company. I could be fuzzy on the details, but a previous owner set it up something like a foundation or a not-for-profit, to make it harder for the paper to get swallowed by a Gannett-like substance.

They're independent. They endorsed Simmons last time, but were somewhat defensive about it. Their in-house editorial writers tend toward the liberal side.

I doubt that they're setting up McNally as a punching bag; I don't think the Day is that guileful. Monarch quoted much of the endorsement in another thread here, and I thought their reasoning was valid.

My impressions: Sullivan became the "default" candidate and is fairly well bankrolled, but McNally and his fans are waging a more energetic campaign. I can't get out of the house without seeing his signs! I would also say that McNally seems to be somewhat more thoughtful in the issues; Sullivan's home page is a little heavy on the traditional Democratic acknowledgements ("our seniors") and a little light on original presentation.

Unfortunately, McNally's home page ( http://www.votemcnally.com ) has become less anti-Republican and more anti-Sullivan, and if Sullivan's establishment ties prevail tomorrow, I hope McNally and his supporters aren't totally alienated and will stay in the fray. Jim Sullivan is not the enemy, and I think he'd be a conscientious and responsible congressman. Thinking about the real enemies should be motivation for anybody.

Personally, I think I'll vote for McNally, but after the primary I'll try to get involved in the campaign of the winner, whether it is Sullivan or McNally.

[NewJeffCT]

12. I see a lot of McNally signs, too

Driving up & down Rte 83 in Vernon.

That said, I have to check if I'm eligble to vote tomorrow (I moved a month ago from the 1st district to the 2nd and just registered Democrat in town last Monday...) Also checked, and my town uses the old style lever machines for voting.

This district is known for close races, and 1 vote makes a difference here - who remembers Gejdensen beating Munster by 2 votes years back?

[groton]

13. yah i remeber that

yah i remeber that.

I once Refused to Shake Munsters hand when i was a Kid at the Groton 4th of July Parade.

I think i am going vote for Sullivan my self.

[Happy Eddie]

14. You wouldn't shake the nice man's hand?

What's up with that? Democrat from birth, or did the guy creep you out?

I'm new to the area, relatively, and don't remember Munster. The first district race I remember was the one where Simmons beat Gejdensen. What was the 1998 matchup, was that the one where Munster lost by 2 votes?

[groton]

15. Yes Democrat from Birth.

Im talking about Early 90's when i said that then i moved to cali for sometime and did not follow or realy get much info on the Race.

but Munster lost to Sam like Three or Four times if my Memory serve

[NewJeffCT]

16. Not sure of the exact date

But, I think after the 2 vote victory, Gejdensen ended up winning by 49 or 51 votes on the recount.

It was early to mid 90s, I think.