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Ex-Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz in a teleconference tomorrow will continue to blame Democratic U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy, one of her opponents for their party’s U.S. Senate nomination, for enabling monied Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney to cut his tax bill.

Bysiewicz in a statement yesterday said Murphy in 2010 protected a loophole used by Romney and other wealthy folks to lower their tax rates.

Murphy’s camp on this blog dismissed the accusation, arguing the candidate opposed the 2010 legislation for totally different reasons and in fact has backed elminating the loophole in prior years.

In a new email today an unbowed Bysiewicz announced she’ll be available by phone to speak with the media about the issue tomorrow morning…

Advisory: Bysiewicz to talk about Congressman Chris Murphy’s support for Mitt Romney’s 15% Tax Rate

On Monday Susan Bysiewicz issued a press release about Congressman Chris Murphy’s vote against a measure that would have closed the tax loophole that treats the income from investments made by the executives of private equity funds and Mitt Romney differently than ordinary income – the typical income type of middle class families.

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

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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 Lee-style campaigning from Tong…

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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.

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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 regular folks pay.

“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.

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Hearst Connecticut Newspapers has obtained a copy of a letter sent today by World Wrestling Entertainment to Christopher Shays disputing some less-than-flattering statements recently made by former congressman about the company once run by his GOP Senate adversary Linda McMahon.

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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:

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A new website targeting female voters was rolled out this week by the campaign of two-time Senate hopeful Linda McMahon.

After her lackluster showing in exit polling of female voters in the 2010 Senate election, Republican Linda McMahon is rolling out a new campaign website targeting women – www.womenforlinda.com

The focal point is a photo of three generations of the women in McMahon’s family. From left to right: Stephanie McMahon Levesque, McMahon’s daughter; Evelyn Carson, McMahon’s mother; and McMahon herself.

The website features a four-minute video, one intended to show the softer side of the former World Wrestling Entertainment CEO talking about her modest childhood in North Carolina and her personal success story.