Political Capitol

A few Republicans tossed out Sen. Minority Leader John McKinney’s, R-Fairfield name today as a possible GOP contender for the office of Attorney General now that the popular Richard Blumenthal is pursuing the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate.

I put in a quick call to McKinney and he just got back to me with a definitive “no.”

“I’ve never thought about running for Attorney General,” McKinney said.

He does plan within seven days to announce if he will run for Governor.

“I said I’m going to make a decision over the holidays about the race for Governor and I’m going to stick to that schedule,” McKinney said.

Forget U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd’s decision to retire.

Forget Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s decision to seek the Democratic nomination for Dodd’s seat.

What I found shocking today is the fact that, despite the cold and the snow, George Jepsen, a former state Senator from Stamford and ex-Democratic Party Chairman, cancelled a trip to Jamaica so he could prepare to launch an exploratory committee to run for Attorney General.

Let’s see…

Jamaica.

Form an exploratory committee.

Jamaica.

Form an exploratory committee.

One more time. JAMAICA IN WINTER. Orrrrrrrr form an exploratory committee … in winter.

I admire Jepsen’s ambition, but this is yet another reason why I would never be fit to seek public office.

Sure, she’s been talking about running for Governor and has an exploratory committee, but read this statement from Secretary of the State Bysiewicz about Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s decision to run for U.S. Senate and tell me it does not sound like  she is now considering his job:

“Susan wants to continue serving the people of Connecticut and she is still exploring her options as the best way to do that.  In the meantime, she expresses her sincere thanks to Chris Dodd for his long record of service to Connecticut and looks forward to being on a 2010 ticket with Richard Blumenthal.”

In contrast, Mary Glassman, the Simsbury First Selectman who on Tuesday formed an exploratory committee for an unspecified statewide office, told me when I asked about rumors she was interested in Blumenthal’s position: “I am really focused on an exploratory committee for statewide office with an eye toward the Governor’s race.”

Had an interesting conversation today with Professor Gary Rose, chairman of Sacred Heart University’s politics and government department.

We were, of course, talking about the U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd is out/Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is in news and the latter’s chances of fending off Republican opposition in the general election this November.

Many political types think that Dodd’s exit amid tough poll ratings and the popular Blumenthal’s decision to run as his successor ensures Dodd’s seat will remain Democratic.

Rose said he is not convinced that the race is over for the Republicans. One of his reasons? How Blumenthal – an active, careful-what-you-eat, a bit stiff kind of guy – appears on camera.

“There’s not the most appealing image on TV,” Rose said. “He looks anemic or gaunt. Not healthy. I don’t know if that’s going to play out. I think it could.”

… as Attorney General while he runs for U.S. Senate, Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell has the authority to appoint a fill-in.

That appointee would likely be a Republican, giving them a possible leg-up in the 2010 race to replace Blumenthal, a Democrat, which is why it makes political sense for him to campaign while staying on the job.

Now he just has to be careful not to mix his numerous Attorney General press releases with his campaign ones, although critics would say every press release out of Blumenthal’s office is politically-motivated…

I had to chuckle during a phone interview with Republican U.S. Senate wannabe Rob Simmons on today’s political bombshells.

Just to recap, long-time Democratic U.S. Sen. Christopher Dodd, who Simmons and other Republicans had been gunning for in this November’s elections, has decided to step aside so that the more popular Attorney General Richard Blumenthal can try and preserve Dodd’s seat for the party.

While admitting some surprise at the news, Simmons told me: “We’ve had a ‘Plan B’ for six months.”

I asked if the “B” stood for Blumenthal, who had been rumored as possibly stepping into the breach should Dodd decide not to seek re-election.

“A ‘Plan B’ in anticipation of a possible Dodd retirement,” Simmons said, adding there were a handful of other Democrats whose last names did not begin with “B” that might also have stepped forward.

We sent Hearst Reporter Bill Cummings over to the Department of Education this morning when we heard that the state Board of Education was holding a meeting and one very important member was present.

Bill’s charge was to try and corner member Linda McMahon, who is seeking the GOP nomination to run for U.S. Senate in November, on the switch in opponents – long-time Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd is retiring and long-time Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is seeking the Democratic nomination to take Dodd’s place.

The board took a recess and Bill was successful. Here’s what McMahon, a Greenwich resident whose family runs the Stamford-based World Wrestling Entertainment empire, had to say:

——————–

That’s the sound of former Stamford Mayor/potential Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dannel Malloy slapping his head at the news Mary Glassman has formed her own exploratory committee for statewide office, including governor.

Malloy plucked Glassman, current Selectman of Simsbury, from relative obscurity in 2006 as his running mate when he was pursuing the Democratic nod for Governor. He received the nomination but lost the primary to New Haven Mayor John DeStefano.

Glassman won her primary and she and DeStefano were soundly trounced by Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell.

Yes Dan, you created a monster (Um. I don’t mean that you’re a literal monster, Ms. Glassman. Just a turn of phrase.)

Here’s Glassman’s statement:

————

Glassman Establishes Exploratory Committee for Statewide Office
Says new ways to create job friendly environment and transform government
are keys to get Connecticut working

Saying Connecticut must find new ways to create jobs and deliver state services effectively, Simsbury First Selectman Mary Messina Glassman filed papers with the State Elections Enforcement Commission Tuesday establishing an exploratory committee for statewide office, including governor.

“I was born and raised in a Connecticut where the promise of a good school, an affordable college education, a solid middle class job and a decent retirement was in reach for our citizens,” Glassman said Tuesday. “But today those opportunities are out of reach for too many families. I’m exploring a campaign for statewide office, including governor, because we need to find new ways to transform government, to create a job-friendly environment and to get Connecticut working again.”

Glassman served six terms as Simsbury’s chief executive where she won praise for cutting town spending, fostering regional cooperation and serving as the driving force behind the creation of a nationally renowned skating center and the summer home of the Hartford Symphony. Under her watch, Simsbury was recently ranked among the Top 100 Best Places to Live in America.

“As first selectman I’ve always looked for ways to do more with less so that we can have the resources to invest in our schools, strengthen our neighborhoods, foster small businesses and create jobs. We need to do that at the state level, but it requires planning and vision – something our state has sorely lacked,” said Glassman.

Glassman first attracted a statewide following as the Democratic nominee for Lt. Governor in 2006.

In addition to her tenure as Simsbury First Selectman, Glassman worked on the staffs of House Speaker Moira K. Lyons and Senate President Kevin B. Sullivan, focusing on education, long-range planning, transportation policy and mental health programs. Mary also served as chief of staff to the Lt. Governor following the resignation of Governor John Rowland.

Glassman is a former journalist and has served as Director of Legislative Affairs for Connecticut Voices for Children, a non-profit group that advocates for children’s programs.

Glassman majored in journalism at the University of Connecticut and went on to earn a law degree at the University of Connecticut School of Law, where she met her husband, Andy Glassman. Mary and Andy have three children.