Political Capitol

Matthew John Oakes of East Hartford says he has entered the three-way race for the Democratic Party’s U.S. Senate nomination.

Oakes announced on January 14 but just got around today to sending our Hearst newspaper empire an email. I can’t be insulted because it doesn’t appear – at least after a Google search – that anyone else in the media was notified, either.

Oakes is entering what’s been a three-person race to replace retiring Senator Joseph Lieberman between well-known to somewhat-known politicians – U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, ex-Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz and state Rep. William Tong.

Some could argue that Oakes is a bit too late to the game. Then again ex-U.S. Rep. Chris Shays just formally entered the GOP race for the Senate nomination today after he announced his intentions last August.

Oakes certainly knows how to introduce himself in an interesting fashion and appeal to a broad range of voters. Here’s a key paragraph from his email:

“I am pleased to announce my candidacy for United States Senate, a position that was previously occupied by Joseph Lieberman. Being poor, disabled, gay and a victim of crime, I am uniquely qualified to serve. I have seen it all, and in a time where both the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street think they know what is best for America, I am willing to stand up and say let’s meet in the middle. I have seen it all, I have nearly done it all, and for these reasons I have the experience and qualifications to serve the citizens of the great state of Connecticut.”

UPDATE: A few folks contacted me today wondering whether this guy is legit. For example, there are no records of his candidacy popping up with the Federal Election Commission. 

Reached by phone, Oakes swore he’s a real candidate, his paperwork has been filed and he’s out knocking on doors and trying to schedule appearances with various Democratic organizations.

He said he’s been turned down by a few who don’t consider him to be a seriously recognized candidate because he has not received any coverage in the press.

“Some of them are like, ’I'll be honest, you should just give up’,” he said.

But he’s going to keep trying to garner attention.

“Hey, why not? At least get a message out there,” he said.

Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy’s administration today released a list of $78.6 million mid-year budget cuts to address a sharp decline in revenue.

Although the state is investing $22 million in a tourism marketing campaign, arts and tourist attractions are not spared. Among those groups is the Greater Hartford Arts Council, run by First Lady Cathy Malloy, which faces a loss of $4,733.

Here’s the full list of budget cuts across state government. Arts and tourism organizations are listed under the Department of Economic and Community Development.

Mrs. Malloy doesn’t have as much to complain about as some of her colleagues whose groups are losing even more in state funds.

It was August when Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy’s administration – after denying rumors Swiss banking giant UBS was considering pulling out of his hometown of Stamford – announced it was giving the company $20 million to keep 2,000 employees in state until its lease expires in 2017.

In an interview at the time, Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Catherine Smith expected the deal to be solidified by the fall.

Here’s what we reported: The ink is still drying on the contract. Smith said the parties entered into a letter of intent outlining the transaction. She declined to specify the date that occurred, but said it is likely final details and legal reviews will wrap-up this fall.

But according to Jim Watson, a DECD spokesman, the assistance agreement is still in the works.

“Finalizing assistance agreements of this complexity can take time,” Watson wrote in an email.

Maybe while he’s in Davos Switzerland for a world economic forum the governor might want to take the opportunity to light some fires under UBS execs and start talking about what happens after 2017.

No word from the administration whether Malloy will have an opportunity to meet any folks from the bank at the conference. (UPDATE: According to the forum website, UBS is a “strategic partner”.)

If not, it’s only a 1 hour and fifty minute drive from Davos to UBS HQ in Zurich.

While other candidates for U.S. Senate – like Democrat U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy and Republican Linda McMahon - are touting endorsements from local leaders and organizations, state Rep. William Tong, D-Stamford today announced support from the West Coast.

Tong in an email and on his website said his candidacy to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Stamford has the backing of San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee.

“Mayor Ed Lee has given much of his professional life in service of the city of San Francisco. He served as Director of Public Works and City Administrator there for many years, and in 2011, he became the city’s first Asian-American mayor,” Tong wrote.

Tong was the first Asian-American elected to the Connecticut General Assembly.

While some might scratch their heads over the relevance of a California politician’s endorsement to Connecticut politics, Tong is seeking broad support from the Asian-American community (here’s one example, here’s another) to overcome better known Democratic rivals Murphy and ex-Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz.

At the least here’s hoping we get some colorful Ed Lee-style campaigning from Tong…

During the 2010 U.S. Senate race a political consultant or an advertising guru (I can’t remember who) contacted me with an observation – Linda McMahon and her U.S. Senate campaign made excellent use of the color blue.

Blue, this person said, is one of those colors folks in the industry use to manipulate consumers/voters into feeling really good about a product/politician.

Google “blue” and “advertising” or “politics” and you’ll find plenty of supporting evidence. Here’s one example. Here’s another.

One excerpt: “Blue is considered beneficial to the mind and body. It slows human metabolism and produces a calming effect. Blue is strongly associated with tranquility and calmness. In heraldry, blue is used to symbolize piety and sincerity.”

McMahon, a Republican, wore other colors on the campaign trail but blue outfits during the televised debates with Democratic opponent Richard Blumenthal…

I had completely forgotten about that brief 2010 conversation with the aforementioned political consultant/advertising guru until McMahon, who is seeking the 2012 GOP Senate nomination, released this new advertisement…

WOW! Hear her story AND look into those deep blue eyes… So calming. So sincere. Must cast vote for Linda…

Wait. Where was I? Oh, sorry. That’s right - colors and political candidates.

Perhaps McMahon has always gravitated toward blue. But if her campaign handlers didn’t think it appealed to voters, you can be sure she wouldn’t wear it as often.

Recently ABC News reported on the GOP presidential contenders’ colors of choice during the primary debates.

So the next time you see a candidate in a political advertisement or in a public appearance, don’t just worry about being manipulated by their words.

Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Susan Bysiewicz Monday sought to take advantage of the national controversy surrounding Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s low 15 percent tax rate.

In an email Bysiewicz accused one of her primary opponents, Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, of voting in May 2010 against a bill to close the loophole critics say wealthy Americans like Romney use to dodge taxes.

“On May 28, 2010 Chris Murphy was one of only 34 Democrats who voted against a House bill that included an important provision to change the tax treatment of ‘carried interest’ by taxing 75 percent of investment income as ordinary income, and 25 percent as capital gains. It was expected to raise $17 billion in revenue. The AFL-CIO characterized the bill as a significant way to ‘…close tax loopholes and ensure corporate accountability,’” read Bysiewicz’s email.

Bysiewicz continued, “I strongly disagree with Congressman Chris Murphy’s decision to protect the tax loophole for Mitt Romney and Wall Street executives. Instead, we should be looking out for the middle class. That’s why my plan will remove the tax loophole and hold Wall Street accountable for the financial crises they caused that continues to hurt the middle class.”

I asked the campaign for a link to the vote tally and here’s what they sent along.

I reached out to Kenny Curran, Murphy’s campaign manager, for a response. Curran said his man has supported at least three other efforts to close the tax loophole between 2007 and 2009 but the 2010 bill was too expensive.

Here’s the vote tally for one of those bills from December 2009.

“On this particular vote they’re (Bysiewicz’s campaign) talking about, Chris’ vote had nothing to do with his support of carried interest. He definitely supports closing this loophole and has used his voice and vote to do that. Overall this bill added $54 billion to the deficit. Chris just wasn’t comfortable with that,” Curran said. He added, “People in Connecticut know where Chris stands on tax fairness. He’s voted repeatedly to close this tax loophole and to end the unfair Bush tax cuts. That’s why groups that fight for middle class workers here in Connecticut like UAW, CWA, CT Building Trades, CT Firefighters, CEA and the Working Families Party have been quick to support him in this important race.”

It should be noted Murphy wasn’t the only member of the Connecticut delegation to vote no. U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Greenwich also opposed the legislation.

UPDATE: The Bysiewicz campaign believes it can get some mileage out of this issue.

From an email: ”Bysiewicz will be available from 10:00-10:30 a.m. on January 25, 2012 by phone to talk about this vote in light of Romney’s release of his income tax form.”

According to No Labels, the group pushing members of Congress to sit with a colleague from the rival party during Democratic President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address Tuesday, four of Connecticut’s representatives are so far on board.

The guys from Greenwich - Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Democratic Rep. Jim Himes - are on the fence along with Democratic Rep. John Larson of East Hartford. 

Maybe Blumenthal and Himes figure they get enough of the GOP living in Greenwich…

HOUSE:

SENATE:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) will likely not be among the organizations fighting Gov. Dannel Malloy’s recent proposals to relax state laws regulating the sale of liquor.

In fact the group actually supports Malloy’s effort to allow bars to serve until 2 a.m. because it will prevent Connecticut patrons who currently can’t buy a drink after 1 a.m. from hitting the road for one last hour of boozing it up in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

New York will still have us beat, though, with it’s 4 a.m. closing time.

Here’s our report.