Ken Dixon's Blog-O-Rama

Ned Lamont, ahead slightly in the polls heading into the August 10 Democratic gubernatorial primary against Dan Malloy, spent about an hour and a half this afternoon touring the Family ReEntry program on Bridgeport’s Main Street and it’s East Side facility to meet some of the employees and clients.Ken Jackson, director of the Beacon program, aimed at keeping kids out of the prison system, said that if Lamont wins election “give us a call.” Lamont, who also talked with a group of 21 Harding High students, promised Jackson “I won’t forget about you,” if he wins election. The programs help stop the revolving door in the state’s prison system, where most inmates find themselves back in prison because they can’t make it on the outside.

This from the Malloy camp this morning after Ned Lamont launched a new TV ad.

“Dan Kelly, Campaign Manager for the Dan Malloy for Governor Campaign, today released the following statement in response to new attack ads that Ned Lamont’s campaign began airing this morning on TV and radio across the state.  Said Kelly:

 “It’s unfortunate Ned would resort to these attacks – attacks he knows are untrue.  Let’s take Ned’s ridiculous claims one by one.

“Ned says he’s debated Dan numerous times, but they’ve had exactly one head-to-head debate on TV, and none in the closing weeks of this election when many voters are just tuning in.  Ned has made a choice not to stand next to Dan on stage and let voters compare the candidates’ records and visions.  The idea that Ned Lamont isn’t dodging debates is, frankly, laughable:

“It’s also ironic that Ned would attack Dan’s record on clean elections and clean government, considering Dan is abiding by Connecticut’s clean elections law and Ned isn’t.  It’s another baseless attack.  Dan’s campaign is built on small dollar contributions of $375 and less, while Ned has supplemented the millions he’s spent of his family’s money with millions in individual contributions of up to $3,500 each from Wall Street special interests, including some from the U.S. Virgin Islands, and he’s taken $3,500 from kids barely old enough to drive, but who have wealthy parents.

“While Ned was doing that, here’s what newspapers in Connecticut were saying about Dan’s fundraising:

“Finally, it’s both sad and telling that Ned would bring up the question of debates while making these baseless accusations.  If Ned would simply join Dan on August 3 for the scheduled debate hosted by Ch. 3 and CPBN, they could have an open dialogue about all of these issues and more.  What’s Ned got to lose?  Or rather, what’s Ned got to hide?”

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Dannel Malloy could not gain the endorsement of the Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee, but today he’ll get the backing of one of the city’s Democratic renegades, Rep. Chris Caruso, the longest-serving member of the city’s legislative delegation. Malloy, fighting to win the August 10 primary against Ned Lamont, who had a single-digit lead in the last Q Poll, will meet Caruso at 1 p.m. at the Virginia Avenue location where Gov. Jodi Rell targeted a detention center for girls, only to bow to local pressure led by Caruso.