Matthew Oakes, the poor, disabled, gay East Hartford Trekkie who launched an unlikely bid for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, is exiting the race to back U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy.
Oakes during Saturday’s nominating convention came in a distant third. Murphy received 76 percent of the delegate vote and ex-Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz 24 percent, enough to qualify for August’s primary.
Oakes got one vote. He said at the time he would decide over the weekend whether to petition his way onto the primary ballot or endorse Murphy.
Oakes this afternoon told me he and Murphy met this morning.
“There is an announcement coming,” he said.
While Oakes did not specifically say he’s endorsing Murphy, it’s easy to read between the lines.
Oakes said he believes now that the convention is over, the party should be united in its efforts to win (retain?) the seat occupied for years by Democrat-turned-independent Democrat/occasional Republican ally Joseph Lieberman.
For that reason Oakes said he is disappointed Bysiewicz is challenging Murphy’s nomination.
Oakes added he appreciated the sympathy note Murphy sent after the death of his sister April 27 following a long battle with drug addiction.
“He sent me a handwritten note. It was really special,” Oakes said. “It’s just one of those other things that has touched my life that other people – regular people – deal with … It did enough damage to her heart where her heart gave out. She had a massive heart attack. And Chris was just so, so kind and generous with his words.”