Ken Dixon's Blog-O-Rama

It’s a sure sign of spring when Agriculture Day occurs in the Capitol. The building is awash with blue-jacketed future farmers clubs from throughout the state and there are exhibits galore set up in the Capitol’s first floor. There’s still time to get up here are grab a maple milkshake or maybe even a tomato seedling!

The Blogster, back from a brief fact-finding trip on the hills surrounding Montpelier, VT, the nation’s smallest state Capitol, is not shocked to see that the winners in this morning Quinnipiac University Poll are the undecideds in both Republican and Democratic parties as they assess gubernatorial hopefuls. Even though Greenwich millionaires Tom Foley and Ned Lamont are in the nominal leads for the GOP and Democratic nomiantions, respectively, voters are not embracing them, the Q Poll found.

Lamont’s camp was first with reaction this morning:

Communications Director Justine Sessions: “This is the third poll in a row where Ned is up by double digits over his closest challenger.”
 
“Ned’s business background and his focus on creating jobs are resonating with voters, and this comes before campaign season has even kicked into high gear.  As Ned continues to travel the state sharing his vision to get Connecticut back on offense with more voters, we’ll see his support grow even stronger.”

Here’s Foley’s:

“We are flattered and encouraged by the results of this poll. I have been traveling across Connecticut since June listening to the concerns of voters. This poll confirms that the issues I hear most about from citizens and the ones I have addressed in My Plan Forward for Connecticut – bringing jobs and the economy back to our state, reducing the cost and size of government, reducing the tax burden on working families, and changing the way business is done in Hartford – are resonating with the people of Connecticut.”

Here’s Roy Occiogrosso, on behalf of Dan Malloy, the former Democratic mayor of Stamford.

“Is Ned really highlighting a poll that shows his lead shrinking?  That’s an interesting strategy.  But what’s more interesting is the fact that Dan increased his vote share by 64% without spending a dime on paid communications.  Ned’s numbers didn’t move.   Dan is proving that you don’t have to spend millions of your own dollars to become better known and to generate enthusiasm and support for your candidacy.  What you do have to do is have the better candidate with a better track record and better ideas.  We’ll spend plenty of money on paid communications when the time is right: after the Convention, when voters really begin to pay attention.  People ask Dan all the time if this strategy can work.  Today shows that it’s already working.”