Primary Season Heats Up
http://www.ctlawtribune.com/getarticle.aspx?ID=37748
By ROBERT SATTER
From now until August 10 is the height of primary season in Connecticut. Both parties are engaged in these contests.
The Democrats for governor pit party-endorsed Stamford mayor Dan Malloy against businessman and former U. S. Senate candidate Ned Lamont; for lieutenant governor, party-endorsed Simsbury First Selectman Mary Glassman against State Comptroller Nancy Wyman; for secretary of the state, party-endorsed House majority leader Denise Merrill against Gerald Garcia; for comptroller, party-endorsed Michael Jarjura against Kevin Lembo.
The Republicans for U. S. Senator pit party-endorsed wrestling mogul Linda McMahon against former Congressman Rob Simmons and Peter Schiff; for governor, party-endorsed former Ambassador Tom Foley against Lt. Governor Michael Fedele, and businessman Nelson “Oz” Griebel; for lieutenant governor, party-endorsed Lisa Wilson-Foley against Mark Boughton; for attorney general, party-endorsed Martha Dean against Ross Garber.
The Republicans also have primaries for congressmen in the first, second, fourth and fifth districts.
Both parties have five contests for nomination of state senators and numerous contests for nomination of state representatives. All in all, a busy season.
Those in politics agree that primary elections are more difficult to wage than general elections. Each candidate is on his or her own. Even endorsed candidates can’t expect much help from their parties. They must organize their own campaign staff and amass their own war chest.
In the high profile primaries for U. S. Senate and governor, the candidates appeal to the general public, mainly through television ads. These cost money and money will undoubtedly be a factor in the outcome.
Democrat Dan Malloy has raised the necessary amount in small contributions to qualify for state funding of $1.25 million. Ned Lamont can rely on his own wealth to finance his campaign.
So can Republican Tom Foley. His opponent Michael Fidele has applied for state funding, but Fidele’s application is being challenged by Foley in court.
Republican Linda McMahon has the advantage not only of being rich, but her opponents for the U. S. Senate nomination are not entitled to any public funding.
The less visible candidates for the state constitutional offices have to aim their campaigns more directly at their party members. They will do so through phone canvassing and campaign mailings. To the extent they raise sufficient funds or get public financing, they will run some television ads.
As spirited as primaries may be, they must be waged with one hand behind the candidates’ backs.
They can’t vilify their opponents as enemies the way they can candidates of the other party. They know that when the battle is over, the winner must seek the help of his opponent and his opponent’s supporters to unify the party for the general election.
Moreover, between candidates, differences over issues are likely to be slight. The contest is usually about style and personality.
While state-wide primaries are like battleships dueling at long range, primaries for state representative are hand-to-hand combat. They are fought in the neighborhoods where the candidates live.
Such campaigns are waged by the candidates’ friends making phone calls and writing personal notes to their friends to ferret out supporters and to get them to the polls. Many state representative candidates of the major parties have already qualified for state funding of $10,400 and will use that money for lawn signs, bumper stickers, and direct mailings.
But mainly state representatives engage in door-to-door campaigning. A candidate with the legs of a halfback and the stamina of a long-distance runner can knock on every party member door in his district.
The task is arduous but the effort worthwhile.
Candidates are almost always greeted with warmth when they explain their mission. Voters, like young girls hoping for a prom invitation, like to be asked. A jovial smile and brief chat occasionally gains a nod of approval.
I once won a primary by one vote and always attributed the victory to knocking on one more door than my opponent.
Connecticut’s primary season, coinciding with a gorgeous summer, has not aroused much public excitement. But it should, because it will determine the political parties’ candidates for important offices this fall. •
Robert Satter is a judge trial referee sitting in Hartford superior court. He is the author of Under the Gold Dome – An Insider’s Look at the Connecticut Legislature. His email address is bsatter@att.net.
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