On Eve of Their Big Debate, Malloy and Lamont Skip the Kids at Stamford’s Yerwood Center. Marsh Promises Them Ice Cream on Primary Day.

Ned Lamont sent his two daughters over from Greenwich, but Dan Malloy didn’t even assign a representative to this morning’s big debate among grade school kids at the Yerwood Center on Stamford’s Richmond Hill. The Blogster expects both Democratic candidates for the party’s gubernatorial nomination were in high cram mode for Tuesday afternoon’s televised debate on Channel 3.

 Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele was there at the Yerwood Center, though. Tom Foley sent a staffer. Oz Griebel came down from Simsbury for the event and even Tom Marsh, the Independent candidate who is petitioning his way on to the fall ballot for governor, showed up. Marsh just submitted about 11,000 petition signatures, but needs only 7,500, so he expects about 9,000 to be certified. Marsh’s campaign promise to the kids: ice cream on August 10, the day of the primary he doesn’t have to worry about. The Blogster will be checking back with Bonnie Kim Campbell, the “Great Debate” coordinator, to make sure Marsh coughs up the ice cream for the 20 or so kids who took the various positions of the gubernatorial hopefuls during the 90-minute program.