Ken Dixon's Blog-O-Rama

Connecticut politics is a contact sport

Archive for August, 2010

A Week After Manchester Workplace Murders, Rell Orders DPW to Review State Plans to Stop Workplace Violence

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Governor M. Jodi Rell has ordered the state Department of Public Works (DPW) to draft a new set of procedures for stopping avoiding workplace violence. In a news release today she said the revisions will be released in September and were uner review prior to last week’s workplace shootings in Manchester, where nine died. The latest version of the 50-page Violence in the Workplace Policy and Procedures manual was last rewritten in 2007. The updated version will include information on how agencies can revise plans for addressing threats  “The heartbreaking and startling tragedy in Manchester is a stark reminder that we must do everything we can to forestall these kinds of violent outbursts,” Rell said in a news release. “Employers and co-workers alike must be aware of the warning signs when someone is reaching a breaking point. And all must be prepared to react – calmly but swiftly – in the event that an attack actually takes place.In the years since the 1998 shootings at the state Lottery headquarters and the terrible attacks of September 11, 2001, Connecticut state government has made a concerted effort to improve security at all of its buildings. Yet – like all public institutions – we must balance those security interests with our responsibility to be open and accessible to the people we serve. The policies and procedures outlined in the DPW manual are essential to meeting those two goals.”

 

It’s all About Turnout Now. Q Poll Finds Malloy, Lamont Within the Margin of Error; Fedele Finally Within 10 points of Foley

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This from the Quinnipiac University Poll on Monday Morning:

“The Democratic primary for governor in Connecticut is going down to the wire with businessman Ned Lamont at 45 percent and former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy at 42 percent, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of Democratic likely primary voters released today.  This compares to a 45 – 40 percent Lamont lead August 5.  Today, 12 percent remain undecided and 30 percent of those who choose a candidate say they might change their mind.

Former wrestling executive Linda McMahon is pulling away from Rob Simmons and now leads 50 – 28 percent, with 15 percent for Peter Schiff, compared to 47 – 30 percent in an August 4 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.  Today, 7 percent are undecided and 30 percent of those who choose a candidate say they might change their mind.

Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele continues his surge among Republican likely primary voters and now trails former ambassador Tom Foley 38 – 30 percent, compared to 41 – 26 percent August 5.

Today, Oz Griebel has 17 percent, as 14 percent remain undecided and 47 percent of those who choose a candidate say they might change their mind.

“The Democratic governor’s race between Ned Lamont and Dan Malloy is too close to call and the Republican governor’s race between Tom Foley and Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele could produce a surprise,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.  “In the Republican Senate contest, it looks like Rob Simmons would need more than a surprise; he would need a miracle to catch Linda McMahon.  But in politics, miracles do happen.”

            From August 3 – 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 664 Connecticut Republican likely primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.8 percentage points and 464 Democratic likely primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.6 percentage points.  These likely voters were selected from lists of people who have voted in past elections.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more data or RSS feed– http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 

Horse Doping Is the Dirty Big Secret at Summer Fairs. But Can the Equines Hit Home Runs?

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 The Connecticut Department of Agriculture announced today it has banned two draft horses and their owners owners from pulling contests at state fairs, following random tests for anabolic steroids. Last month the DOA found positive samples in the two horses at the North Stonington Agricultural Fair.

One was entered and owned by the Perkins Family and the other was entered and owned by Eric French and Son, both of North Stonington. State law requires that both the horses and the owners be banned from any state contests for a year.

 ”The purpose of the program is to assure that animals entered into the contests are not mistreated with the use of performance-enhancing and other types of drugs; that participants in the event do not have an advantage due to the effects of an administered drug; and that spectators can be assured that they are watching an honest contest,” according to the DOA.

 “These draft pulling events, a long-standing tradition at our Connecticut Fairs, are enjoyed by many of the fairgoers – and, by working with the Connecticut Fair Association, these random tests not only preserve the fairness of the events but more importantly help ensure the well being of the animals,” Agriculture Commissioner F. Philip Prelli said in a Friday news release.

 

In Primary Poker Game Between Malloy and Lamont, the Race Cards Are Flying

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Dan Malloy has been hammering Ned Lamont over an alleged incident of workplace racial discrimination that resulted in an out-of-court settlement. Today, a group of African American religious and political leaders, at least most of whom coincidentally support Lamont, will hold a 10 a.m. news conference “to denounce gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy for his recent campaign tactics and his record on race as Mayor of Stamford.” The event will occur on the north steps of the Capitol, facing Bushnell Park. Among those scheduled to attend include Joe Suggs, the former state treasurer, Sen. Ed Gomes of Bridgeport and Sen. Toni Harp of New Haven and Rep. Toni Walker of New Haven. Lamont got the endorsement of Democrats in both Bridgeport and New Haven.

Fedele Trots Out Former Foley Employee From Now-Closed Bibb Textile Mill in Macon.

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Lt. Gov. Michael Fedele’s Republican gubernatorial campaign today released remarks from Jerri Bardwell of Columbus, Georgia, a former Bibb mill employee of 38 years, whom Tom Foley, the Greenwich investor who’s ahead in the GOP primary, said never worked in the facility during the 10 years that he owned it.

Chris Cooper, Fedele’s spokesman: ”It’s bad enough that Foley cost these workers their jobs — now he insults them by calling them liars. Tom Foley owes all of them an apology.”
 

Here’s the statement by Jerri Bardwell, former Bibb Mill employee:

“I understand that Tom Foley is calling me a liar who never worked at the Bibb factory and was bought off by a lavish lunch.”

“I am outraged, angry and hurt by this. I cannot believe Mr. Foley would stoop so low. Mr. Foley killed our factory, our jobs and our town, but he cannot kill our dignity. Mr. Foley you should be ashamed of yourself. I hope the voters of Connecticut teach you a lesson on Tuesday.”

“And just for the record, I worked at the factory for 38 years, no one told me what to say or bought me lunch.”

State Senate Overrides Rell Veto on Campaign Finance

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The vote, after a slight rehash of the May debate, was a partisan 24-10, putting the ball firmly in the court of the House, which is currently planning to meet next Friday and get 101 of the 114 Democrats to seal the deal and reject the veto of Rell, who signed the landmark 2005 public-financing law, which could be repudiated by voters next Tuesday in the Republican and Democratic gubernatorial primaries.

Blumenthal’s Press-Release Juggernaut Stalls. Recommendation to Refer Bysiewicz’s Data Base to State Prosecutors Isn’t Worthy

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Attorney General Dick Blumenthal, the Democratic veteran who’s a mere 10 pioints ahead of neophyte Linda McMahon in the race for the US Senate, has recommended that state prosecutors investigate Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and her use of a state database to pursue her political agenda. But you won’t read that in the flood of weekly news releases that slurry forth from Blumenthal’s Elm Street office. Apparently it’s too politically sensitive, so it was merely posted on Blumenthal’s web page, because that’s what state reporters do all day: refresh their screens to Blumenthal’s website, hoping and praying for another Blumenthal lawsuit.

Malloy Turns It Into a Horse Race. Q Poll Finds Him Within 5 points of Lamont as Tuesday Gubernatorial Primary Looms. How Much More Negative Will They Go?

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Here’s the top of this Morning’s Quinnipiac University Poll, followed by  statements from Malloy and Lamont
CONNECTICUT GOVERNOR’S PRIMARY RACES TIGHTEN UP,
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY POLL FINDS;
DEMOCRATS’ LEAD IN NOVEMBER MATCHUPS TOPS 13 POINTS

 

Less than one week before the Connecticut primary, former Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy trails businessman Ned Lamont 45 – 40 percent in the race for the Democratic nomination for governor, according to a Quinnipiac University poll of Democratic likely primary voters released today. 

This compares to a 46 – 37 percent Lamont lead in a July 15 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.  In today’s survey, 14 percent are undecided and 43 percent of those who choose a candidate say they might change their mind before the August 10 primary.

Among Republican likely primary voters, Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele trails former ambassador Tom Foley 41 – 26 percent, surging from a 48 – 13 percent deficit July 15.  Oz Griebel has 13 percent.  In this fluid race, 21 percent remain undecided and 62 percent of those who choose a candidate say they might change their mind in the next six days.

“Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele is coming on very strong in these final weeks, but it may not be enough to overcome Tom Foley’s huge early lead,” said Quinnipiac University Poll Director Douglas Schwartz, PhD.

“In just three weeks, Fedele has cut Foley’s lead from 35 points to 15 points.  Foley’s negatives have risen, probably due in part to Fedele’s TV ads.  There is still a lot of voter uncertainty in this race, but with less than a week to go, there isn’t much time left for Fedele.”

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Quinnipiac University Poll/August 5, 2010 – page 2

            “On the Democratic side, Dan Malloy has inched closer to Ned Lamont.  Lamont still has the edge, but with 14 percent of voters undecided and 43 percent who still could change their mind, it is close enough that Malloy could pull it off,” Dr. Schwartz added.

            Connecticut Republican likely primary voters give Foley a 43 – 24 percent favorability, compared to 45 – 9 percent July 15.  Fedele gets a 34 – 17 percent favorability, with 45 percent who don’t know enough about him to form an opinion.  This compares to a 20 – 5 percent favorability July 15, when 73 percent did not know enough about him to form an opinion.

These Republican voters say 51 – 23 percent that Foley has a better chance to win in November.

Democratic likely primary voters give Lamont a 56 – 18 percent favorability, compared to 60 – 12 percent July 15.

Malloy gets a 50 – 12 percent favorability rating, little changed from July 15.

These Democratic voters say 46 – 29 percent that Lamont has a better chance to win the general election.

Among all Connecticut voters, Lamont and Malloy lead any of the possible Republican candidates by a 13 to 25 percentage point margin, depending on the matchup:

  • Lamont tops Foley 46 – 33 percent;
  • Lamont over Fedele 48 – 33 percent;
  • Lamont beats Griebel 50 – 27 percent;
  • Malloy over Foley 46 – 31 percent;
  • Malloy beats Fedele 47 – 30 percent;
  • Malloy tops Griebel 50 – 25 percent.

            From July 28 – August 2, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,299 Connecticut registered voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points.   Also from July 29 – August 2, Quinnipiac University conducted separate surveys of 1,003 Connecticut Republican likely primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points and 979 Democratic likely primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points.  These likely voters were selected from lists of people who have voted in past elections.

The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts public opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.

For more data or RSS feed– http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or follow us on Twitter. 

Here’s Malloy’s statement:

MALLOY  CAMPAIGN RESPONDS TO Q-POLL

The following is a statement from Dan Kelly, Campaign Manager for the Dan Malloy for Governor Campaign:

“This race is tightening because as people really begin making up their minds, they’re moving to Dan.  They know he turned around a City, and they think he can turn around a State.  They know Dan Malloy has the right kind of experience to be Governor.  They’re moving away from Ned because they don’t want a CEO to run this state like a business, and they want this to be an election, not an auction.  Ned is pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars a day into this race – about $8 million so far – and people are beginning to reject it.  Ned thinks this is his state, and that he can play by his own rules – typical Wall Street, CEO behavior.  Ned thinks he can fool people with a TV ad that’s been called the ‘the worst smear of the campaign so far,’ as long as he spends enough money on it.  On August 10th, Ned’s going to find out that democracy isn’t for sale in the Democratic Party.” 

Here’s the release from Lamont

New Haven, CT – Businessman Ned Lamont’s campaign released the following statement after the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute released the results of a statewide poll showing Lamont maintaining his lead in the Democratic gubernatorial primary:

“Despite a two-week barrage of Dan Malloy’s false, negative ads and his repetition of four-year-old lies about Ned and his company, Connecticut voters still know that Ned Lamont has the best experience to create jobs and help their families.  By a nearly two to one margin, Connecticut Democrats know that Ned is the candidate who has what takes to beat the Republicans, take back the Governor’s mansion, and get our state moving forward,” said Lamont Communications Director Justine Sessions. 

“While Dan’s campaign grows more desperate and erratic every day, we’re sticking to our strategy and talking to the people of Connecticut about the issue that they care about most: jobs. We’ve got a robust field operation that will turn out our voters on election day, and with just 5 days to go, the only poll that matters to us is next Tuesday.”

 

 

 

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